30 years ago, Correctional Officer D’Antonio Andrew Washington died the day following an attack by an inmate at USP Atlanta in Atlanta, Georgia.

Senior Officer Specialist B.M. Jetter reports that in the C Cell house, the inmate borrowed a hammer from the inmate plumber and attacked Officer Washington from behind. Officer Washington was struck on the head three times with the ball peen hammer. He was transported to Grady Memorial Hospital. His parents made the difficult decision to stop life support the following day, three days before Christmas, and he succumbed to his injuries.

The inmate was incarcerated for killing his wife, who was in the Marine Corps at the time of her murder.

Following the attack on Officer Washington, the inmate was responsible for two more staff assaults. The inmate was sentenced to death for the murder of Officer Washington.

Officer Washington was the first African American officer killed in Federal prison and the second officer murdered at USP Atlanta.  Officer Washington, and his parents,  were honored at PROJECT 2000 in 1995.