Motive for stabbing at Draper prison still unclear

By brooke adams

| The Salt Lake Tribune

First Published Jun 20 2012 12:24 pm • Last Updated Jun 21 2012 12:06 am

Corrections officials are still trying to determine what led one inmate to stab another Tuesday night.

The fight occurred just before 5:30 p.m., when a 27-year-old Native American inmate stabbed his cell mate multiple times in the arms and back, said Steve Gehrke, spokesman for the Utah Department of Corrections. The two had shared a cell for about four months.

The victim, a 26-year-old Latino man incarcerated on an aggravated robbery conviction, was taken by ambulance to a hospital, where he was still being treated Wednesday morning. Gehrke said the victim is expected to survive.

Officials have not recovered the weapon and the motive behind the attack is not yet clear, Gehrke said.

The suspect is serving a sentence for multiple convictions, including aggravated assault. He now may face additional criminal charges as well as disciplinary action by the Department of Corrections.

brooke@sltrib.com

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