Inmate Dies After Brawl At Atoka County Correctional Center

Authorities are investigating the death of an inmate, who died after a brawl at the Mack Alford Correctional Center in Stringtown, Oklahoma, Wednesday night.

According to the Department of Corrections, at about 9:30 p.m. four inmates, later identified as Gregory Smith, Deangelo Washington, Kenneth Strain, and Joshua McGuffin, began fighting, using homemade knives as weapons.

The fight took place in the day room, where bunks have been placed to deal with overcrowding. There are 52 inmates living in the day room located in the B-Unit of the south quad.

Authorities said the fight only lasted a few minutes before on duty correctional officers were able to quell the situation. No correctional officers were injured or involved in the incident.

Smith was pronounced dead at the Mary Hurley Hospital in Coalgate. He was serving a life sentence for first-degree murder.

Washington received a stab wound to the stomach. He was transported to McAlester Regional Hospital where surgery was performed. Washington remains in observation at this time. He is serving a six-year sentence for robbery by force.

Strain received stab wounds to the back. He was flown to OU Medical Center for treatment. The number of injuries to Strain is unknown at this time. He has been released from the hospital and is being returned to the facility. Strain is serving a 20-year sentence for theft.

McGuffin received a cut to his hand. He received stitches at the local emergency room and has been returned to the facility. McGuffin is serving a five-year sentence for drug trafficking and manufacturing of a controlled dangerous substance.

Agents with the Oklahoma Department of Corrections Office of the Inspector General, along with Corrections Emergency Response Teams, are at the facility and have launched an investigation into the situation.

Corrections Director Joe M. Allbaugh arrived at the facility early Thursday morning and said the investigation will be thorough before more details are released.

“We have launched a full-scale investigation into the situation and will continue to search for motives that lead to this incident,” said Allbaugh. “It’s an unfortunate situation when someone loses their life to senseless violence. We will ensure the proper measures are taken to better manage these situations in the future.”

The facility remains on lockdown during the course of the investigation and weekend visitation has been canceled.

This correctional center is rated to house 864 medium and minimum security inmates, 104 of those beds are temporary beds that have been added to the facility due to overcrowding. The prison is currently housing 923 inmates.