Hammer Used In Deadly Stillwater Prison Attack: Report

STILLWATER, MN — Authorities say a corrections officer at the Stillwater state prison was killed following an assault Wednesday. Officer Joseph Gomm was attacked at 1:30 p.m., according to the Minnesota Department of Corrections.

Gomm was transported to Regions Hospital in Saint Paul. He was later pronounced dead.

"I am appalled at the horrific murder of Officer Joseph Gomm," Gov. Mark Dayton said in a statement.

Sources told KSTP the inmate involved is Edward Muhammad Johnson. Johnson is serving time for homicide, according to authorities.

The sources said Johnson attacked Gomm with a hammer, the news station reported.

Johnson was sentenced for the 2002 murder of his girlfriend, Brooke Elizabeth Thompson, in a Bloomington apartment.

He is the son of two Chicago police officers. At age 12, Johnson watched his father shoot his mother six times before killing himself, the Pioneer Press reported.

"On behalf of all Minnesotans, I offer my deepest sympathies to Officer Gomm’s family, friends, and fellow Corrections Officers," Dayton said Wednesday.

"We pray that they find strength and solace at this very difficult time. We are all indebted to the courageous Corrections Officers and other state employees, who risk their safety in Minnesota's prisons to ensure the safety of their colleagues, our communities, and the inmates themselves. Minnesotans are grateful for your selfless service, and we mourn with you the loss of your colleague and friend."

Built in 1914, MCF-Stillwater is Minnesota's largest close-security institution for adult male felons.

Sign Up For Patch's Daily Newsletter and Breaking News Alerts in Your Neighborhood

Images via Minnesota Department of Corrections