Prison officers injured after attack at Higüey prison

Violent incident at CCR-XIV Anamuya leaves two prison officers injured

The General Directorate of Penitentiary and Correctional Services (DGSPC) has launched an exhaustive investigation following a violent altercation that occurred this Wednesday at the Anamuya Correction and Rehabilitation Center (CCR-XIV) in Higüey. The incident resulted in serious injuries to two penitentiary order officials after being attacked by an inmate.

The affected officers were identified as Rafael Guerrero, service supervisor, and Alfredo Eusebio Zorrilla, deputy director of Security at the facility. Both were assaulted by inmate Jorge Luís Jiménez Vásquez, popularly known as Jaici, who is currently serving a preventive detention measure.

Attack details

According to preliminary reports from Alofoke Deportes, the incident took place in the vicinity of the center’s softball field, moments before a recreational game between the inmates was set to begin. Jiménez Vásquez surprised the authorities by emerging from a hallway carrying a pair of segmented scissors, with which he attacked the officers without warning.

The attack was direct and sudden. The assailant managed to wound supervisor Guerrero in the abdomen first, and then lashed out at deputy director Zorrilla, who received wounds to his side and left arm.

The situation could have been even more serious, as the aggressor attempted to attack other members of the Penitentiary Surveillance and Treatment corps, specifically Eduard Tolentino and Ángel Lorenzo, who managed to repel the action and avoid being struck by the bladed weapon.

Health status of those involved

• Rafael Guerrero: Presents serious injuries to the small intestine, colon, and stomach. He is under observation in the intensive care unit, reported as stable.
• Alfredo Zorrilla: Suffered wounds in the sternum area, stomach, and a muscle injury in the arm. His condition is stable and is not life-threatening.
• Jorge Luís Jiménez Vásquez: After being neutralized, the inmate was transferred to a medical center with a minor head wound and a possible wrist fracture following the struggle with security personnel.

Jiménez Vásquez, who has been incarcerated for approximately 14 months on robbery charges, remains in custody while authorities determine the corresponding disciplinary sanctions and clarify the motives that triggered this attack within the prison.