Title: Uprising, the Vaughn 17
Description: >On February 1, 2017, inmates took control of the C Building at the James T Vaughn Correctional Center in Smyrna, Delaware. That Wednesday morning, a storm that had brewed for decades finally broke.
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>Sgt. Steven Floyd, two guards Joshua Wilkinson and Winslow Smith, and Prison Counselor Patricia May were taken hostage during the nearly 20-hour siege.
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>The law enforcement officers worked well into the night in hopes of restoring control over the building and releasing the hostages.
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>The release of Patricia May was successful without any harm coming to her. While Corrections Officers Wilkinson and Smith were severely beaten, Sgt. Floyd, unfortunately, succumbed to his injuries.
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>Despite Building C's maximum security status, there were no cameras inside. The investigators had to rely on the testimony of inmates. Among those who spoke first was Royal Downs, a convicted murderer and gang leader transferred from Baltimore after testifying against his gang for a lighter sentence.
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>The testimony of Downs was instrumental in the indictment and prosecution of 17 inmates for the riot, kidnapping, and murder of Sgt. Floyd.
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>The state believed they had a strong case and proceeded with group trials for all 17 inmates.
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>It was an outcome that no one could have predicted.
Subjects: prison uprising, prisoner uprising, prison rebellion
Places: James T. Vaughn Correctional Center
People: Vaughn 17