Hostage Situation Unfolding At Delaware’s Largest Prison Where ‘Inmates Have Taken Over A Building’

Delaware’s largest prison is on lockdown after a hostage situation has gripped the facility. The Department of Corrections has confirmed that the Vaughn Correctional Center near Smyrna, Delaware faces an “emergency situation” after inmates have taken several correctional officers hostage.

Dozens of police vehicles and ambulances have rushed to the prison that houses roughly 2,500 inmates. Helicopters were also circling over the prison.

There is reportedly smoke coming from the prison.

Rep. William Carson, a member of the House Corrections Committee, said he had been told it was an “apparent hostage situation.”

“The inmates have taken over a building,” he said.

The Kent County Fire Department was called to the correctional center around 11:30 a.m. after an alarm was sounded.

The situation at Vaughn Correctional Center has caused all Delaware prisons to go on lockdown.

“Prison is on lockdown, all prisons in the state are on lockdown, as per protocol,” said Jayme Gravell, public information’s officer for the Department of Corrections.

Delaware’s Department of Corrections says in a statement that their response teams and the Delaware State Police have responded to a hostage situation at the James T. Vaughn Correctional Center in Smyrna.

It is not known how many hostages there are at this time.

The Vaughn Correctional Center houses minimum, medium, and maximum security inmates.

[DelawareOnline]