The Huntsville Item, Huntsville, TX

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January 31, 2010

Prison guards shoot 3 inmates in failed escape

By Matthew Jackson



The Allen B. Polunsky Unit in Polk County is on lockdown after correctional officers opened fire on five offenders attempting to escape the facility Friday night, wounding three.

At approximately 9 p.m. Friday a group of offenders were returning to housing units after attending a church service at the unit’s gym when five of the offenders jumped an interior fence and charged the unit’s perimeter fence in an attempted escape.

According to Texas Department of Criminal Justice Public Information Officer Jason Clark, verbal warnings were issued for the offenders to stop, and when none of them complied, officers opened fire with AR-15 rifles and .12 gauge shotguns.

“The officers involved observed the offenders attempting to climb the fence. The picket officer gave a verbal order to stop and when they did not he opened fire to stop the escape,” Clark said. “Correctional officers are authorized to use force to stop offenders from escaping.”

Three of the offenders: Albin Zelaya-Zelaya, 29, Michael Dueitt, 27 and Terry McDonald, 29, suffered non life-threatening gunshot wounds and were taken to local hospitals for treatment.

The remaining two offenders, Donald Gower, 41, and Juan Quintero, 36, suffered lacerations from razor wire and were treated and returned to the unit shortly after the incident.

The five face felony attempted escape charges.

Quintero was sentenced to life for capital murder in the 2006 death of Houston police officer Rodney Johnson. He shot the officer from the back seat of a patrol car. Quintero is an illegal immigrant, and his case sparked debate over police policy regarding the checking of immigration status of defendants.

John Jordan, who prosecuted Quintero, told the Houston Chronicle he was relieved to learn that prison guards had prevented him from making it over the fence.

“Until Juan Quintero takes his last breath, he will be a threat to the community,” Jordan said. “I’ve no doubt he would have killed somebody if he would have gotten out. It’s a good thing officers stopped him.”

Zelaya-Zelaya is serving a life sentence for burglary with an intent to commit a felony; Dueitt and Gowan are serving life sentences for capital murder; and McDonald is serving a life sentence for murder, according to Texas Department of Criminal Justice records.

The Polunsky Unit is located five miles southwest of Livingston and has a maximum capacity of nearly 3,000 offenders. It has served as “death row” for male TDCJ offenders since 1999.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.









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