Three inmates face charges after prison massacre – NBC Boston

Charges have been filed against three inmates allegedly involved in the violent attack on correctional officers at the maximum-security Souza-Baranowski prison in Lancaster, Massachusetts, earlier this month.

In criminal complaints filed Friday in Clinton District Court, 39-year-old Jose Crespo, 36-year-old Heriberto Rivera-Negron and 30-year-old Jeffrey Tapia are charged with assault, armed assault and battery, the Massachusetts Department of Correction announced.

Interim Commissioner Shawn Jenkins released a statement Saturday saying the charges filed show the Department of Corrections will not allow something like this to happen without consequences, adding that his investigators have worked tirelessly since the Sept. 18 incident. to make this accusation.

“Assaults against our officers will not be tolerated and the serious charges against the three individuals show that the Massachusetts Department of Correction will take action,” Jenkins said. “This type of violence is unacceptable and now those involved will be held accountable in court.”

“We have and will continue to prioritize the safety and health of our correctional officers and appreciate their commitment to the DOC and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts,” Jenkins added.

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The Massachusetts Correction Officers Federated Union said it was grateful to the Worcester County District Attorney’s Office for its assistance and had worked with them to bring “the appropriate charges” against the inmates involved “in this ambush attack on our officers.”

“We call on the DOC to take action to make prisons safer by eliminating the deadly weapons and drugs that are too prevalent in our system,” the union added. “Our focus remains on the safety of everyone in the prison system, including our brothers and sisters at MCOFU.”

Days after two correctional officers were stabbed at the Souza Baranowski Correctional Center, authorities have released video of the incident.

Officials previously said two correctional officers were stabbed about 6:20 a.m. that Wednesday while making routine rounds. One of the officers was stabbed in the back of the head and the other was repeatedly stabbed 12 times in the back.

Another three correctional officers were injured while rendering aid. All five were taken to area hospitals for treatment of various injuries.

The officer, who was stabbed multiple times, was the last to leave the hospital after suffering a lung injury.

Surveillance video showing the attack was released last Friday. The Massachusetts Correction Officers Federated Union said at the time that it was “stunned, horrified and angry at the level of brutality” in the video – but they were not surprised.

“We warned the DOC about something like this. Our officers continue to be injured. This horrific video speaks for itself,” the board said in a statement following the video’s release. “Change has to come, and quickly.”

Five correctional officers were hospitalized after a violent incident Wednesday at the Souza-Baranowski Correction Center in Lancaster, Massachusetts. Follow NBC10 Boston:

Just last month, the union raised the alarm that dozens of “homemade, sharpened weapons” had been found in the maximum security prison. Dennis Martin, the president of the Massachusetts Correction Officers Federated Union, said these weapons are made from free pills they receive. He said the inmates smashed the panels that contained a strip of metal they used to make weapons.

Martin said the union has been warning the state for nearly three years about problems at the prison, including an increase in guns and drugs, but nothing has been done about it. He said the union is calling on the Department of Corrections to bring in special forces to “shake this place up” and get rid of weapons and contraband.

Two state lawmakers — Sen. Peter Durant and Rep. Michael Soter — have also called for an investigation into the incidents.

The defendants in the case will appear in court for the first time in October. Rivera-Negron’s arraignment is scheduled for Oct. 10, Crespo’s arraignment is scheduled for Oct. 11, and Tapia’s arraignment is scheduled for Oct. 15. It was not immediately clear whether anyone had hired a lawyer.

According to the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security, five correctional officers were hospitalized after two were stabbed at the Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center. Follow NBC10 Boston: