Correctional Officer Killed in Inmate Attack at River North Correctional Center
GRAYSON COUNTY, Va. — A deadly assault inside River North Correctional Center has shaken the Virginia Department of Corrections after an inmate violently attacked two correctional officers Monday morning, leaving one officer dead and another hospitalized.
According to VADOC, the attack happened around 7:53 a.m. on November 17 at the state prison facility located in Independence. Both officers were rushed to a local hospital, where one succumbed to their injuries. The second officer remains under medical care.
VADOC officials say the facility has since been secured.
In a statement, VADOC Director Chad Dotson expressed deep sorrow and vowed accountability:
“Our agency and the entire Commonwealth are in mourning today. Our hearts are with the Officer’s family, the other Officer who was attacked, and to our public safety heroes at River North. The VADOC will do everything in its power to ensure this vicious attack is prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
Names of the officers and the inmate have not yet been released. The VADOC Office of Law Enforcement Services is now leading the investigation.
Violence Inside Virginia Prisons: A Dangerous Reality
Monday’s deadly incident highlights what many officials and advocacy groups have long warned about — correctional facilities are among the most dangerous workplaces in Virginia.
According to statewide correctional safety data:
- Virginia reports dozens of serious assaults on correctional officers each year.
- Nationally, correctional officers experience injury rates up to five times higher than the average U.S. worker.
- Studies show more than 250 injuries per 10,000 officers annually, compared to about 7 per 10,000 in other fields.
- In Virginia, the combination of understaffing, inmate overcrowding, and rising gang activity has contributed to increased assaults on both staff and inmates in recent years.
Correctional officers regularly rank among the top five most dangerous professions in the United States. Beyond physical attacks, officers also face high levels of PTSD, chronic stress, burnout, and long-term trauma.
A Job That Few See — and Even Fewer Understand
Behind prison walls, correctional officers often work with limited backup, long shifts, and unpredictable inmates, many of whom struggle with mental illness or violent histories. Incidents like the River North attack underscore the risks these officers take every day just by reporting for duty.
As Director Dotson noted, the loss reverberates throughout the department:
“Our hearts are with the Officer’s family… and to our public safety heroes at River North.”
Investigation Ongoing
Officials say more details will be released once the officer’s family has been notified and the investigation progresses. The inmate involved is expected to face additional charges, including possible capital murder, depending on prosecutorial review.
River North Correctional Center remains on heightened security status as VADOC investigators continue gathering evidence and interviewing witnesses.