Authorities Investigating Attack On Christian Costello In OK County Jail

Chief Public Defender Robert Ravitz said what happened to his client was awful.

On the 12th floor of the Oklahoma County Jail Monday, he said surveillance video showed two inmates identified as Rueben Lamar and Tarik Jones assaulting Christian Costello.

“I think it’s just you got two punks who want to show they’re the boss and they would beat up anybody in there,” Ravitz told News 9.

He said jail surveillance shows Christian Costello getting attacked by two inmates - Rueben Lamar and Tarik Jones.

3/15/16 Related Story: Christian Costello Assaulted By Two Inmates At Oklahoma County Jail

Sheriff's officials confirmed the two inmates popped the locks on their cell doors and when a staffer opened Costello's cell for his time to exercise, they reportedly rushed into Costello’s cell.

“They pummeled him. His eyes were basically swollen shut, blood all over and a lot of red all over his face,” he said.

Sheriff's officials said they check the doors several times a day, but this is one of the many reasons they've been pushing for a new facility.

“I mean it’s a balance, obviously. At the very least we need to make sure we do three things. We need to make sure that jail is adequately staffed. We need to make sure there are sufficient mental health resources in that jail for those who have mental illnesses and three, we need to fix the locks. You can’t have a jail where the inmates run the asylum,” Ravitz said.

According to Ravitz, Costello was new to the floor where the attack happened. He had been staying in an area for inmates with mental illnesses.

Ravitz said he was told Costello was recently moved because he was doing better. “Whoever approved that move should be fired, in my opinion,” Ravitz said.

And sheriff's officials said charges have been sent to the DA's office for consideration against both inmates.

Costello's attorney said jail staff assured him his client would be taken to a metro hospital Thursday for proper x-rays and a CAT scan.