Two inmates are dead after a riot at Tecumseh State Correctional Institution.
The Tecumseh State Correctional Institute was on lockdown due to a disturbance at the maximum-security prison Thursday at 1 p.m..
The Department of Corrections says about 40 out of 128 inmates in a housing unit refused to return to their cells, and set a fire on the concrete slab of the small yard.
The prison's emergency response team along with Nebraska State troopers, Johnson County deputies and Johnson County Fire and Rescue were on the scene. At approximately 4:30 p.m. the emergency response teams entered the affected area and secured it. Damage to the affected housing unit was not extensive and remains functional.
A full search of the housing unit is underway. There have been numerous reports of non-life-threatening injuries to inmates. The names of those injured and killed will not be released until family is notified.
The Nebraska State Patrol is leading the criminal investigation and the Nebraska State Fire Marshal is conducting the investigation into the fires. An internal critical incident review is also being conducted.
Tecumseh prison officials say the public's safety was never compromised.
Governor Pete Ricketts issued the following statement:
"Thanks to the action of our Corrections Officers and the State Patrol, the incident at TSCI was swiftly resolved and public safety was never at risk. Director Frakes will thoroughly investigate the incident, and inmates involved in the incident and the loss of life will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law."
Two inmates also died during a riot at the facility in 2015.
Stay tuned to KMTV for more updates.
