Inmate accused of stabbing 2 prison guards

Two correctional officers were stabbed at the Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility Tuesday by an inmate who pulled a nine-inch shank from his waistband, authorities said.

One of the officers, James McCurry, was stabbed in the shoulder, and the other, Jheovannnie Williams, was stabbed through his forearm, Philadelphia Prison System spokeswoman Shawn Hawes confirmed Wednesday.

The prisoner, identified as Joseph Rios, 18, initially swung the weapon at McCurry and was wrestled to the ground by Williams, but Rios fought Williams off and managed to stab the officers during the struggle, Lorenzo North, president of correctional officers' union Local 159, said in an email.

The altercation ended when a third officer came in and was able to subdue the inmate with pepper spray, North said.

Both injured officers were treated at Jeanes Hospital and released, Hawes said.

"Unfortunately, they make shanks out of anything they can find," Hawes said when asked how the prisoner obtained the weapon. "They smuggle them in or make them out of anything they can find in the cell or the jail."

Hawes said that Rios was placed into segregation pending a hearing.

She was unsure why he is locked up.