Seen from a phone is a video taken by an inmate inside Lee Correctional Institution in Bishopville, South Carolina.  Included in this video is an inmate carrying a large blade during an intense riot in the prison on Sunday and Monday.

This breakout resulted in seven lives lost at the institution along with seventeen inmates who were crucially injured in the disturbance.

A source who has spoken to the Associated Press has states that bodies were “stacked on top of each other.”  While the incident last from 7:15 p.m. on Sunday into early Monday morning, no correctional officers were hurt.

One of the prisoners housed in a unit at Lee Correctional Institution made multiple phone calls, text messages, and one video chat to The Root.  These communications included a story of the prison having an economy within itself that is based on drugs, gang rivalry, and contraband.

He also revealed that approximately 75 percent of prison inmates own cellphones.  Although phones are not allowed in South Carolina prisons, the officers simply take them from the inmates with no penalty.  Often times, the officers will not even take them since there it may be life ending for them.

Alicia Matthews, a junior at Eleanor Roosevelt High School says, “It is extremely astonishing that the prisoners control the prison.  They’re supposed to be serving a sentence but end up creating their own world and create even worse issues and get away with them.”

Smuggled through the penitentiary were knives, shanks, and Tasers.  Since this institution is a level 3 facility, it holds the violent offenders that have long sentences and behavioral issues.

There had been news of a package that was supposed to be delivered for quite some time.

The inmate source stated that one of the gangs was going to take the entire package.  Rumors circled for quite some time leading up to Sunday that inmates did not leave their dorms since it was obvious a fight was going to take place.

The Crips and Blood gangs began fighting on the way to their dorms from the cafeteria which is when the officers called for an immediate lock-down.

After someone yelled, “‘Them boys over there banging!‘” the ruckus began.

Very few prisoners actually witnessed the deadly incident since everyone knew to get out of the way regardless how close they were to the fight.

Miss. Matthews also stated, “I simply cannot comprehend how the officers who were employed at Lee Correctional Institution were not aware that this fight would happen.  They have no power whatsoever.”

Those who were killed included the following;  Raymond Scott, 28; Michael Milledge, 44; Damonte Rivera, 24; Eddie Gaskins, 32; Joshua Jenkins, 33; Corey Scott, 38; and Cornelius McClary, 33.

The National Guard is now patrolling the perimeter of the prison in result of this riot.

In result of the fight, all inmates will ultimately be in solitary for a minimum of two weeks.