DAVISBORO, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - The Georgia Department of Corrections on Monday released new details about a disturbance at Washington State Prison that left three inmates dead.

The prison remained on lockdown on Monday, a day after the incident.

It all began around 1:25 p.m. Sunday as an altercation on the sidewalk among several inmates, according to the agency.

Staff cleared the visitation area, and several injured inmates were able to enter that area.

No visitors were injured and were safely escorted out of the facility.

Staff responded immediately to the altercation and deployed non-lethal weapons. Around 3 p.m., staff had completed count and wellness checks and the incident was brought under control.

Three inmates were killed:

• Ahmod Hatcher, 23, serving 20 years for aggravated assault out of Richmond County - maximum release date February 2038.
• Jimmy Trammell, 41, serving 20 years for first-degree burglary out of Fulton County. He was set to be released Wednesday.
• Teddy Jackson, serving 10 years for aggravated assault out of Bibb County - maximum release date July 2028.

According to the Georgia Department of Corrections, Hatcher had also been charged with robbery and possession of cocaine. Most recently, he was charged with aggravated assault and mutiny in a penal institution in Richmond County in 2023.

About a dozen other inmates were injured, according to figures from Sheriff Joel Cochran.

A correctional officer was also hurt.

An eyewitness who asked to remain anonymous said the attack happened in seconds during what began as a routine Sunday visit. She said guards bolted from the visitation area, leaving one female officer to watch the room.

“Something is going on; we heard very loud yelling from the walkie-talkies,” the witness said. “You could hear her say, Don’t open that door. You can’t come in here.”

The witness said the group overpowered a guard and took his keys to break through to the visitation room.

“The prisoners that were trying to come through the door were right behind her, hot on her heels,” the witness said. “There’s blood and weapons and busted through a door. But they’re standing between us and our loved ones.”

Victim’s family demands answers

Hatcher’s family said they are demanding answers and accountability, claiming he had warned his mother about unsafe conditions inside the prison.

“A piece of my heart was just torn out of my chest,” Hatcher’s mother said. “He was scared for his life. They were the cause of my son getting killed because they weren’t doing their job.”

The witness said the experience left her shaken.

“It’s really just now hitting me how dangerous it really was, how much worse it could have been,” she said.

It’s not yet clear what prompted the dispute.

“It’s not uncommon for these things to happen at correctional facilities. However, I think it has been quite some time since we’ve had to come to an incident this large,” Cochran said.

The sheriff’s office, Washington County Coroner’s Office, Georgia State Patrol, Davisboro Police Department, Milledgeville Police Department and Johnson County Sheriff’s Office were on the scene Sunday afternoon, working perimeter security.

Cochran said the Department of Corrections is handling the situation inside the prison.

About Washington State Prison

• CONSTRUCTED: 1991
• CAPACITY: 1,548
• SECURITY LEVEL: MEDIUM

HOUSING:

• Eleven general population dorms with ytwo- and three-person cells. One isolation/segregation dorm housing 92 inmates with one- and two-person cells. One 200-bed annex with four, 50 bed open bay dormitories.

WORK DETAILS:

• Correctional industries, kitchen, farm (2), maintenance, laundry and various orderly details. the annex provides: department of transportation detail, Central State Hospital (2), outside grounds detail, vehicle and general maintenance, composting, trash detail and annex rear gate.

PROGRAMS:

• Academic: Literacy remedial, adult basic education, general education diploma
• Counseling: Motivation for Change, family violence, pre-release program, thinking for a change, moral reconation therapy, matrix relapse prevention, matrix early recovery, re-entry, sex offender psycho-educational program
• Recreation: General recreation, intramural sports
• Religious Activities: Bible Study, various worship services to include Jehovah Witness, KAIROS, Catholic Mass, Jumah, Taleem, Bible Study, Narcotics Anonymous, Alcoholics Anonymous
• Vocational/OJT: Computer Technology/customer service, custodial maintenance, food service warehouse, library clerk, grounds maintenance, barbering, general office clerk, industry GCI, sanitation services

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