Tucson, Arizona State Prison Complex fight: 400 inmates fight at Whetstone Unit, 17 injured

Associated Press

TUCSON, Ariz. -- An Arizona prison complex remains on lockdown after a fight broke out among 400 inmates.

State Department of Corrections spokesman Bill Lamoreaux says the staff quickly stopped the fight that broke out Sunday morning at a minimum-security unit of the Arizona State Prison Complex in Tucson.

Lamoreaux says two staffers suffered minor injuries and 17 inmates were taken to area hospitals with injuries. The extent of the inmates' injuries wasn't immediately available.

The prison is investigating the cause of the fight, which broke out in the Whetstone Unit. Nearly 1,250 prisoners are housed in that unit, which is one of eight at the prison.

Prison officials cancelled visitations for the day to the entire prison after the fight.

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ABC15 staff

TUCSON, AZ - Five inmates were taken to the hospital after a fight broke out at a Tucson prison Sunday morning.

Department of Corrections spokesman Bill Lamoreaux said the fight started at the Whetstone Unit of the Arizona State Prison Complex around 9:45 a.m.

Lamoreaux said the fight involved around 300 Caucasian and Mexican-American inmates and approximately 100 African-American inmates.

Officials said two prison staff members received minor injuries during the fight.

Five inmates were transported to local hospitals for treatment and additional inmates were treated on-site.

Lamoreaux said the Tucson complex is on lockdown status, and will remain locked down during the investigation. 

The Whetstone Unit prison houses approximately 1,250 inmates.

Officials said Sunday visitation was canceled.