The death of a Coahoma County inmate in Parchman and unrest in satellite jails around the state has prompted the Mississippi Department of Corrections to implement a systemwide lockdown.
Walter Earl Gates, 25, has been identified as the person killed at Unit 29. He was pronounced dead after midnight New Year’s Eve following what is being described as a “major disturbance” at the Parchman facility. Gates, 25, was sentenced to 10 years in prison from Coahoma County in 2015.
Gates was one of three inmates killed this week in Mississippi prisons.
The Mississippi Department of Corrections implemented the lockdown at all state prisons, private prisons and regional facilities for the sake of safety of the public, staff and inmates.
“Conditions at MSP are under control,” the MDOC said in a prepared statement. “There is an investigation underway to determine what led to the violence.”
MDOC has revoked all visitation through this weekend at all facilities.
Reports of inmates escaping are apparently unfounded.
“Because of the active investigations, the agency is limited in providing additional information,” MDOC said in its press release. “Reporting allegations is irresponsible and could further jeopardize the safety of officers, inmates and the public.”
