WAYMART, Pa. (AP) — An inmate has killed a guard at a federal prison in northeastern Pennsylvania.
Prison officials say it happened Tuesday night at the Canaan penitentiary in Waymart, about 20 miles northeast of Scranton. Authorities say Correctional Officer Eric Williams was working in a housing unit when an inmate using a homemade weapon attacked him.
Williams was rushed to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 11:30 p.m.
Williams was from Nanticoke. He began his career with the Bureau of Prisons in September 2011.
The high-security prison has been placed on lockdown and an FBI investigation is under way.
Warden David Ebbert says, "This is clearly the darkest day in our institution's short history, and we are in shock over this senseless loss of a colleague and friend."
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Statement from United States Attorney's Office:"The staff at the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania extends its condolences to the family of Officer Williams, his coworkers and staff of the U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility at Canaan, Pennsylvania. This matter is under investigation by the FBI, with the cooperation and assistance of the Bureau of Prisons. Attorneys from the U.S. Attorney’s Office have been assigned to the matter.
We have no further comment at this time."