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| N.J. Prison Officer's Throat Slashed |
| By Gloucester County Times |
| Published: 07/30/2003 |
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An officer at New Jersey State Prison remained hospitalized Tuesday, hours after fighting off an attack by a 61-year-old inmate who slashed his throat. Corrections officer Sam Rush, a 20-year Department of Corrections veteran in his 50s, was attacked at 8:15 a.m. in a prison laundry room. The Trenton prison remained under lockdown Tuesday evening as authorities investigated the incident, according to a spokeswoman for the state Department of Corrections. Authorities did not release the name of any suspects Tuesday. But sources said the central figure is William Richard Coburn of Monmouth County, who was serving 30 years to life on charges of murder, manufacturing methamphetamine and weapons. Rush was reportedly in stable condition Late Tuesday afternoon but placed under observation at Capital Health Systems Fuld Campus in Trenton for chest pains. According to a source within the state system, a group of inmates staged a diversion to distract Rush while another prisoner slashed him with a sharp object. Officials refused to disclose what the object was. After successfully fighting off Coburn, Rush was able to seek medical attention, union officials said. He received 15 stitches to his throat, according to sources. ''It was a very serious incident and we feel based on where he slashed his throat the intent was to kill him. It was in a vital area and it was unprovoked. And we're moving to file attempted murder charges,' said Ed Murphy, president of Police Benevolent Association 105, the union representing state corrections officers. 'He was very fortunate it wasn't deeper or it would have hit an artery.' Murphy said PBA officials were at Robert Wood Johnson hospital in Hamilton when Rush was first treated. He said the PBA would continue to give Rush and his family any assistance they need. The attack occurred one day before the sixth anniversary of corrections officer Fred Baker's fatal stabbing at Bayside State Prison in Maurice River Township. Prisoner Steven Beverly stabbed Baker, an attack that led to a prison lockdown. |
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