Wild Chicago Jail Fight Erupts Between Inmates, Leaves 5 in 'Critical Condition'

A fight at Cook County Jail left 5 detainees injured, with authorities recovering weapons seemingly fashioned from inhaler parts.

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A fight at Cook County Jail Friday afternoon left five detainees in "serious to critical condition," NBC Chicagoreported. The fight broke out among detainees in the super-max division of the facility at around 1:30 p.m. Sophia Ansari, spokesperson for the Cook County Sheriff's office, said in a subsequent statement that the situation was "quickly brought under control."

Among those injured during the fight, four had been charged with murder and one with armed robbery. According to the Chicago Fire Department, they were all transported to Mt. Sinai and Stroger hospitals for treatment. 

A spokesperson for the Cook County Jail told the Chicago Tribune Friday that several weapons had been recovered from the scene. Those weapons, spokesperson Cara Smith confirmed, included at least two that had seemingly been fashioned from various inhaler parts. "It was brought under control quickly, but we do have five inmates who suffered injuries," Smith said. An investigation into how the weapons were obtained is ongoing.

Footage of the fight, made available by Cook County officials over the weekend, shows a man running up the stairs inside the facility in an apparent attempt to evade another detainee. A physical altercation then breaks out between two men on the floor as other detainees scatter. One detainee, seemingly injured, is seen being dragged across the floor by his arms. The exact cause of the fight also remains under investigation.

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