SC Lee Correctional Max Security Prison Riot: Inmates Take Hostages & Officers Assaulted [UPDATE]

A major security incident took place on Thursday, as the Lee Correctional Institution in Bishopville, South Carolina. Inmates at the maximum security prison reportedly rioted took control of a section of the prison. One inmate gained access to a cell phone, sharing photos of the prison with CBS affiliate WLTX in Columbia, SC. Those photos showed flooding and one photo of two hostages, said to be fellow prisoners. Three guards are said to have been injured.

The details of Thursday’s riot at the Lee Correctional Institution in Bishopville, SC are still coming in. As of 10:00 p.m. eastern, the prison to said to be secure. The incident started shortly before 11:00 a.m. eastern, lasting around ten hours.

CBS affiliate WLTX News in Columbia SC, received a phone call from on of the prisoners, who told the station that they took four fellow prisoners hostage and harmed three guards. However, the inmate assured the station that no guards were tied up. The inmate also sent photos of the prison that showed massive damage and areas of flooding.

Lee Correctional is a maximum security prison and houses nearly 1000 inmates.