BRIDFGE CITY, La. — Three people were injured after about 20 juveniles briefly took over a youth correctional center in the New Orleans area on Thursday evening, authorities said.
The juveniles were housed at the Bridge City Correctional Center for Youth, located just outside of New Orleans, WBRZ-TV reported. The incident was reported to the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office at about 9:48 p.m., agency spokesperson Capt. Jason Rivarde told CNN.
Rivarde told NOLA.com that a correctional center employee and two of the youths were injured. They were hospitalized but there was no information about their condition on Friday, the news organization reported.
The sheriff’s office said the juveniles broke out of their cells and were able to seize control of some parts of the facility, WBRZ reported. Nearly 50 SWAT officers were used to take back control of the center by midnight, the television station reported.
The takeover happened hours after five inmates escaped from the facility, NOLA.com reported. Four of the escapees were captured and returned to the center, according to the website. One inmate remains at large, WDSU-TV reported.
It is unclear whether the two incidents are related.
The center “houses the more serious juvenile offenders in the state,” Rivarde told CNN.