Prison officials say warning shot during brawl was ‘approved’

The investigation continues into two brawls earlier this week at the federal penitentiary in Atwater involving several inmates that ended after a prison staff member fired what authorities described as “a warning shot.”

Some new details emerged Friday, though officials said exactly what sparked the violence on Wednesday remains under investigation, but have said both fights were “related.”

The first of the two brawls began around 9:50 a.m. and the second around 10:30 a.m., prison spokeswoman Kristi Rodriguez said.

“The tower officer fired one approved warning round from a rifle into the sand pit after the inmates continued fighting when ordered to cease their actions,” Rodriguez said.

The incidents resulted in minor injuries to several inmates who were treated at the prison, officials said.

No staff members were injured and the public was never in danger, Rodriguez said.

This story was originally published May 1, 2015 at 8:31 PM with the headline "Prison officials say warning shot during brawl was ‘approved’."