WALLENS RIDGE, Va. — Three corrections officers were stabbed in a coordinated and violent attack Friday at Wallens Ridge State Prison, a maximum-security facility in western Virginia, according to state officials. The assault, which the Virginia Department of Corrections (DOC) labeled “premeditated,” involved inmates tied to the notorious MS-13 gang and left a total of five officers injured.
The incident unfolded when six inmates, including five identified by officials as MS-13 gang members from El Salvador, ambushed corrections personnel inside the prison. According to the DOC, all five foreign nationals are in the United States illegally and have been convicted of violent crimes ranging from aggravated murder to rape. The sixth assailant is reportedly a confirmed member of the Sureño 13 gang, a U.S.-based criminal group, serving time for second-degree murder.
Three of the injured officers were released after receiving treatment, while two others remain hospitalized in stable condition. All victims were transported to external medical facilities following the assault.
Virginia DOC Director Chad Dotson condemned the attack, calling it a stark reminder of the risks correctional staff face each day.
“Five of the individuals responsible for this senseless attack should never have been in this country in the first place,” Dotson said in a statement. “Every single day, our officers put their lives on the line to ensure public safety for the more than 8.8 million people across the Commonwealth. This attack is an example of the dangers they face when they show up to work every day. Our officers are heroes, and I commend the team at Wallens Ridge for their swift response.”
In an informal comment included in the release, Dotson emphasized that the safety of DOC personnel must be prioritized above all else. “Our dedicated staff deserves a Director who makes it crystal clear that the safety of our officers is our highest priority, over literally anything else we’re doing,” he said. “This will not stand.”
The attack is under active investigation by prison officials, who have not released further details pending the inquiry’s completion.
The stabbing incident has reignited concerns about gang activity within U.S. prison systems, as well as the risks posed by violent undocumented inmates. Wallens Ridge, known for housing high-risk offenders, has seen similar disturbances in recent years but rarely of this scale or level of coordination.
Authorities have not released the names of the injured officers or the inmates involved, and it remains unclear what specific events triggered the attack. However, the DOC’s assertion that the assault was premeditated raises questions about security protocols and intelligence gathering within the facility.
As investigations continue, corrections officials are under pressure to reassess safety measures for staff and address the growing influence of transnational gangs like MS-13 within U.S. correctional institutions.
