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Issue 7  April 17, 2008
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Probe continues in prison riot that killed 2, hurt 5

By Bob Wood

Citizen staff writer

The U.S. Penitentiary at Florence remains on lockdown as authorities continue the investigation into Sunday’s prison riot that left two inmates dead and five others injured.

Two inmates were shot and killed during the disturbance which began about 12:30 p.m. in the prison yard. They were shot by guards who were trying to quell the riot which involved about 200 inmates.

Five others were injured in the melee and were taken to area hospitals.

Leann LaRiva, public information officer for the facility, said no prison staff members were injured in the fracas, and “at no time was there a threat to the community.”

Killed in the incident were Brian Scott Kubik, 40, and Phillip Lee Hooker, 41. Each died from a single gunshot wound.

Kubik, serving a 15- year term, was incarcerated on charges of an ex-felon in possession of a firearm and on career criminal counts. Hooker was convicted on state charges of armed robbery and was serving a 25-year term.

The altercation began as a white supremacist group was celebrating the birthday of Adolf Hitler.

All off-duty personnel was summoned to the prison to help bring the facility under control.

Sen. Ken Salazar wrote a letter to Attorney General Michael Mukasey expressing his continued concern regarding escalating violent incidents largely due to staffing shortages and security shortfalls at the local prison complex.

Sen. Salazar also asked the Department of Justice and Bureau of Prisons to take immediate action to address these problems and requested an independent report on security at the Florence campus.

Sen. Salazar also wrote, “I believe your evaluation of this violent incident should take into account the security concerns I and others have pointed out over the last several years, and I urge the Department of Justice and the Bureau of Prisons to take immediate action to address these problems. I am also asking for an independent report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to assess security at the facilities on the Florence campus, including the USP, the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) and the Administrative Maximum Facility, or Supermax.”