2 Inmates Dead, Prison Guard Injured After 'Human Error' At Lawton Facility

The Oklahoma Department of Corrections said "human error" at the Lawton Correctional and Rehabilitation Center led to "security threat groups" inadvertently coming into contact, resulting in a fight that left two inmates dead.

Monday, May 13th 2024, 5:15 pm

By: Storme Jones

LAWTON, Okla. -

The Oklahoma Department of Corrections says human error is to blame after a deadly altercation erupts at a private Lawton prison Friday.

The Lawton Correctional and Rehabilitation Center remained on lockdown Monday after two inmates were killed, three inmates injured and a department of corrections employee received minor injuries. One inmate was rushed to the hospital in a helicopter.

“I’ve been involved in corrections for 35 years. I’ve never seen it as bad as it is right now,” State House Corrections Chairman Representative J.J. Humphrey (R-Lane) said.

The Oklahoma Department of Corrections said in a statement "human error" at the facility run by the GEO Group led to "security threat groups" inadvertently coming into contact.

“How long does it take for our legislators and how long does it take for the governor to say ‘hey this is obviously a problem?’” Humphrey said. “We have a complete massive meltdown, a complete failure with the current director and it’s time for somebody to say we’ve got to do something step in and stop these problems.”

Department of Corrections Spokeswoman Kay Thompson pushed back on Humphrey calling Friday’s violence a “mini-riot.”

“The chairman of Criminal Justice and Corrections seems to lack an understanding of precisely what constitutes a riot in a correctional setting. He continues to misrepresent the truth to fit his self-serving narratives,” Thompson said in a statement.

Data provided by DOC shows last year saw fewer prison homicides compared to a five year high of 15 in 2022. Inmates executed under the state’s death penalty are classified as homicide.

“We can do stuff to stop this,” Humphrey said. “We can declare a state of emergency. We can step in and stop this but again I don’t think that we will. I think I will be continuously ignored.”

Friday’s prison violence is being investigated by the Department of Corrections Office of Inspector General.