Two inmates were killed and more than 30 others were injured in a massive brawl at an Oklahoma prison, leading to a lockdown, a pause in visitations and renewed calls for reforms aimed at curbing violence in the state's prisons.

The fight broke out Friday at the the Lawton Correction and Rehabilitation Center, a privately managed prison about 90 miles southwest of Oklahoma City, prison officials said.

"We had a group disturbance at LCRF which resulted in multiple inmates injured and two deaths," Corrections Department Spokesperson Kay Thompson said in an email to The Oklahoman, part of the USA TODAY Network. "It’s unknown at this time how many had minor injuries that were treated at the facility."

The incident, which is currently being investigated by the corrections department's inspector general, occurred after an "operational error," Thompson said, without providing more information. She added that visitation at the facility was cancelled through the weekend.

Founder of advocacy group says incident involved two gangs

Emily Barnes, founder of criminal justice advocacy group Hooked on Justice, said the incident involved two gangs who were supposed to have been kept separate. She said one of the gangs was let into the yard, which started the fight.

Barnes said she was first notified by inmates the facility was on lockdown on Friday evening. She said inmates didn’t eat until about 1 a.m. because of it.

“This is considered a mini riot because it was more than 30 people involved and more than 30 people hurt,” Barnes said before rebuking the state's department of corrections. “DOC is letting this stuff go on, and something needs to be done.”

Thompson, the spokesperson, said the corrections department's operations team is working closely with The Geo Group, a security company that operates prisons, to understand how Friday's fight occurred and what corrective actions need to be taken.

"ODOC is always concerned for the health and safety of those in our care and those incarcerated in contracted facilities," she said.

The Geo Group said they were aware of the incident and one officer sustained minor injuries. "The health and safety of all those in our care has always been our number one priority, and we have zero tolerance for any acts of violence," a spokesperson said.

State representative says its time for state of emergency declaration

The incident drew a harsh rebuke from state Rep. Justin Humphrey, who heads the House Criminal Justice and Corrections Committee. Humphrey has been critical of the management of the corrections system and previously has called for policy changes to better protect both DOC staff and inmates. After news of the

"I am very disappointed that the Department of Corrections has ignored the overwhelming evidence that our prison system is primed for disaster," Humphrey said. "I have been publicly warning how the violence in Oklahoma prisons has been escalating."

Humphrey said it was time for state officials to declare a state of emergency within the corrections system.

"I hope the governor and our legislators will take notice and take proper actions to prevent more lives from lost," he said.

Years of inmate violence plagues the state

Both the Lawton Correctional Facility and the Allen Gamble Correctional Center in Holdenville (formerly Davis Correctional Center) reported eight homicides during the past five years, those numbers are the highest in the state system − which continues to struggle with inmate violence.

Records obtained from the corrections department show at least 29 inmates died by homicide from 2019 to 2023. Corrections Department officials said Saturday they were waiting for the medical examiner’s office to determine the official cause of death for another 28 inmates who died in 2023.

Homicide is the fourth-leading cause of inmate death in Oklahoma prisons, excluding executions.  

Corrections Department officials previously said that staffing levels aren't causing prison violence. They attribute homicides and injuries to gang activity and contraband, something they say they are working hard to reduce. Those efforts include revised policies and procedures, new technology, regular sweeps of inmate cells, and separating rival gang members have eased the risk and located weapons, drugs and cellphones.