Authorities recently released surveillance footage capturing the brutal attack of a Rikers Island correction officer by inmates at around 6:30 p.m. on Saturday evening, February 10.

In a video recorded by a camera overlooking an area at the George Motchan Detention Center, an inmate named Steven Espinal is seen ambushing the 39-year-old officer with a punch to the face.

Three others then rush the officer and take him to the ground, at which point he reportedly fell unconscious. A total of six Blood gang inmates ended up getting involved. Each of them is reported to be below the age of 21.

The inmate was heard over the phone saying that he was going to knock out the corrections officer, so obviously it happened and they did it and now the officer is in the hospital,” said Elias Husamudeen of the Correction Officers’ Benevolent Association. It is believed that Espinal initiated the beat down in retaliation for the officer writing him up some days earlier.

The officer, whose name has not been released to the media, has been diagnosed with a fractured spine and is being treated in surgical ICU, according to his brother.

Source: NY Post