20 people charged in Nevada prison brawl in which 3 inmates were killed

ELY, Nev. -- Nevada authorities have charged 20 individuals in connection with a violent brawl at Ely State Prison last year, resulting in the deaths of three inmates and multiple injuries. The Nevada Attorney General's Office announced that the final suspect was apprehended on March 5 as part of the ongoing investigation.

The deadly altercation occurred on July 30 and led to the fatalities of inmates Anthony Williams, 41, Connor Brown, 22, and Zacharia Luz, 42. Fortunately, no prison staff members were harmed during the incident. The charges lodged against the defendants include first-degree murder, attempted murder, and involvement with a criminal gang, although the specific charges each defendant faces have not been fully disclosed.

Ely State Prison, among Nevada's six correctional facilities, accommodates nearly 1,200 inmates and is notably home to the state’s death row and a lethal injection chamber that has never been utilized. Despite being a maximum-security institution, the prison has not executed anyone since 2006.

Conditions within Ely State Prison have faced scrutiny from advocates, particularly concerning extreme weather and basic living conditions. In December 2022, several inmates staged a hunger strike to protest what they described as unsafe living conditions and insufficient food rations, drawing attention to systemic issues within the facility.

As the legal proceedings move forward, the state’s prison system continues to grapple with challenges related to inmate welfare and safety.