ELY, Nev. — In a significant development regarding a violent altercation that occurred at a high-security Nevada prison last year, state prosecutors have announced that 20 individuals have been charged in connection with the deadly incident. The clash, which unfolded at Ely State Prison, resulted in the deaths of three inmates and injuries to others.
The Attorney General’s Office of Nevada revealed that the final suspect was apprehended on March 5, concluding a lengthy investigation into the events of July 30. The inmates who lost their lives in the chaotic brawl were identified as Anthony Williams, aged 41, Connor Brown, 22, and Zacharia Luz, 42. Remarkably, no correctional officers were harmed during the violent encounter.
The charges leveled against those involved are severe and include first-degree murder and attempted murder. Additionally, some charges involve the use of a deadly weapon with the intention of supporting or benefiting a criminal gang. However, the authorities have not disclosed the specific charges facing each of the 20 individuals involved.
Ely State Prison is one of the six prison facilities operating in the state of Nevada. With a capacity of nearly 1,200 inmates, it holds the distinction of housing the state’s death row and a lethal injection chamber, which, as of yet, remains unused. The state of Nevada has a lengthy pause in executions, having not carried out one since 2006.
The prison’s conditions have been a topic of contention and criticism from various advocacy groups, especially with regard to the extreme temperatures inmates face during the hot summers and frigid winters. In a notable protest last December, several prisoners at Ely State Prison participated in a hunger strike to draw attention to what they considered unsafe living conditions and insufficient food rations.