CRIME

2 inmates killed in Nebraska prison revolt identified

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Security forces in riot gear surround a courtyard behind razor wire at the Tecumseh State Correctional Institution in Tecumseh, Neb., Thursday, March 2, 2017, where dozens inmates congregated after refusing to return to their cells. The prison was placed on lockdown for roughly three hours Thursday after inmates in a housing unit refused to return to their cells and a fire was started in a yard. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik) (The Associated Press)

Security forces in riot gear surround a courtyard behind razor wire at the Tecumseh State Correctional Institution in Tecumseh, Neb., Thursday, March 2, 2017, where dozens of inmates congregated after refusing to return to their cells. The prison was placed on lockdown for roughly three hours Thursday after inmates in a housing unit refused to return to their cells and a fire was started in a yard. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik) (The Associated Press)

Security forces in riot gear escort prisoners from a courtyard behind razor wire at the Tecumseh State Correctional Institution in Tecumseh, Neb., Thursday, March 2, 2017, where dozens of inmates congregated after refusing to return to their cells. The prison was placed on lockdown Thursday after inmates in a housing unit refused to return to their cells and a fire was started in a yard. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik) (The Associated Press)

Authorities have identified the two inmates killed in a riot at a Nebraska prison where a similar deadly incident occurred two years ago.

The state Department of Corrections said Friday that 39-year-old Damon Fitzgerald and 31-year-old Michael Galindo died in the Thursday revolt at the Tecumseh State Correctional Institution.

No details have been released about how the inmates died or what led to the incident.

Some lawmakers are accusing prison officials of trying to downplay the incident at the prison, where two inmates were killed in a May 2015 revolt that caused millions of dollars in damage and demands for upgrades and better staffing.

Thursday's riot involved about 40 inmates who refused to return to their cells. Galindo was serving 12 to 21 years on robbery and other charges. Fitzgerald was sentenced to hundreds of years in prison for crimes including sexual assault.