The Monterey County Herald
FRESNO, Calif. — Inmate riot locks down prison
A California prison was under lockdown Tuesday as administrators investigated a riot involving rival Latino gangs that sent 24 inmates to hospitals, one in serious condition.
Inmates at Avenal State Prison used canes, walkers and foot rests from wheelchairs to beat each other Monday night. The most seriously injured inmates suffered puncture and slash wounds, none life-threatening.
“Exactly what they were fighting over, we’re still trying to figure that out,” said Lt. Doug Snell, prison spokesman. “It’s still a big mess.”
It took 16 ambulances responding from four counties to carry the injured to five hospitals.
The melee came about six weeks after 175 inmates were injured at the California Institution for Men in Chino in a racially motivated riot that left seven housing areas uninhabitable and forced the transfer of 1,100 inmates.
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