Watch CBS News

Corrections Officer Stabbed In Neck By Inmate In Shirley

BOSTON (CBS) - One corrections officer was stabbed in the neck and seven others were also hospitalized after an inmate attack at the Souza Baranowski correctional center in Shirley on Monday.

The officer was stabbed in the back of the neck with a home-made knife, which was taken out of his neck at the hospital. He was still in intensive care Tuesday.

"It appears he was stabbed in the back of the neck because he was doing his job," said Brian Jansen, the President of the Mass. Correction Officers Federated Union.

According to Jansen, one inmate started the fight, but dozens of inmates threw punches in what he described as "the prison block gone wild."

The incident happened in the common area of a cell block.

The inmate accused of starting the riot was targeting guards who found the homemade coffee maker in his cell and took it away.

Before Monday's incident, 25 officers have been assaulted at the prison this year.

Jansen said that the attacked officer was in the hospital six months ago for a concussion after he was hurt in a separate inmate attack.

WBZ-TV's Karen Anderson contributed to this report.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.