August 11, 2009

EDGEFIELD, S.C.---News 12 has learned that there has been an incident at the Edgefield Federal Correctional Institution.

It happened at 12:30 pm when a fight among inmates started in the recreation yard. The staff responded, and the situation is now contained and is under investigation.

No staff members were injured.

Four inmates involved in the fight have been taken to a local hospital for treatment of injuries. Several other inmates involved in the fight were treated at the prison for their minor injuries.

At present, the prison is on lockdown status. The means inmates are confined to their living areas. The prison also says at no time was there any danger to the public. All the inmates are accounted for.

An Edgefield Daily Reporter tells News 12 that officers told him four inmates were flown to MCG hospital in Augusta. Those prisoners taken to MCG are under guard.

Our photographer at the prison said he spotted two to three ambulances inside the facility earlier this afternoon.

FCI Edgefield is a medium security federal facility housing male offenders. It's located south of Edgefield and west of Trenton on Gary Hill Rd. It has been there since the fall of 1998, and was built to house 1600 inmates. There is also a satellite camp at the complex that houses minimum security male offenders.

We will continue to follow this story as it develops. Join us for the latest reports on News 12 First at Five and News 12 at Six O'Clock.