Two dead in attack on staff by inmates at Iowa’s Anamosa prison

ANAMOSA – Two people are dead in an attack on staff by inmates at Iowa’s Anamosa prison.

At approximately 10:15 AM today, multiple staff members were assaulted at the Anamosa State Penitentiary. A department nurse and a correctional officer have died as a result of their injuries.

At this time, the department is collecting and confirming details of the assault. What the department can confirm is that an inmate attacked multiple staff members and inmates in the prison’s infirmary. As a result of their injuries, a correctional nurse and correctional officer have died.

Additional security staff arrived and restrained the inmate. Staff began attempting life-saving first aid on the injured until paramedics arrived.

This information is preliminary, and subject to change pending verification and additional details.

This incident remains under joint investigation by the Iowa Department of Corrections and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, part of the Iowa Department of Public Safety.

Names are being withheld at this time pending family notifications and investigation.

The department will release additional details via press release as they become available in coordination with the Iowa Department of Public safety.

After the incident, Gov. Reynolds released the following statement on the on the tragic and heinous killing of two correctional facility employees at the Anamosa State Penitentiary:

“Today, our state grieves the loss of two public servants who were attacked while on duty at the Anamosa State Penitentiary,” said Gov. Reynolds. “My prayers and deepest condolences are with their families, friends, and colleagues as they begin to cope with this senseless tragedy. We will exhaust every available resource to deliver justice to those who committed this act and bring a sense of closure and peace to the victims’ families.”

Gov. Reynolds will order all flags in Iowa be flown at half-staff from sunrise to sunset on the day(s) of internment in honor and remembrance of the two individuals who were killed in the line of duty at the Anamosa State Penitentiary. Details will be forthcoming.