Corrections officer beaten unconscious by inmate at MCI-Shirley

SHIRLEY, Mass. — Authorities say a corrections officer at a Middlesex County prison was beaten unconscious by an inmate Wednesday afternoon.

According to the Massachusetts Department of Corrections, the attack occurred just after 2:00 p.m. at MCI-Shirley. Officials say an inmate wielding a metal object in the gymnasium attacked an officer, rendering him unconscious. Correctional staff jumped in to restrain the inmate, according to police, and radioed for assistance to secure the area.

The officer was transported to a hospital via helicopter with life threatening injuries.

“We ask that everyone keeps this officer and his family in your prayers,” a spokesperson for the Massachusetts Correction Officers Federated Union (MCOFU) said in a statement. “We are hoping he will be able to make a full recovery.”

The inmate involved has been separated from the general population and will complete an internal discipline process, prison officials say.

“This incident comes as no surprise, considering the get soft on crime mentality that has percolated throughout the state on almost every level,” the spokesperson continued. “This incident warrants a full investigation, and the individual involved in this brutal attack must be prosecuted to the highest extent of the law.”

The Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office has also been notified.

The name of the inmate and the officer is unknown at this time.

No further information was made available.

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