In a desperate bid for freedom, three convicts attempting to escape from the Angola State Prison sawmill brought about the untimely death of Captain J. W. Block. The male Captain was caught by surprise when the trio of prisoners overpowered and disarmed him, turning his own weapon against him and forcing him into the role of a hostage. Their plan for a swift getaway was quickly thwarted as another guard opened fire upon them as they tried to make their way towards the nearby river.
The
chaotic scene escalated as the inmates, now under fire, forced Captain Block into a skiff, shouting warnings to the approaching guards that they would not hesitate to shoot him if the guards continued their assault. In a tragic turn of events, a prison trustee also began firing at the convicts. It was in this hail of bullets that the escaping prisoners fatally shot Captain Block. The firefight ultimately resulted in all three of the inmates being shot. The violent encounter also left a second guard with serious wounds, a stark reminder of the perilous nature of the attempted escape.
