Correctional Officer Dead After Inmates Take Over Building

A correctional officer is dead following a hostage situation inside a Delaware prison. After Building C at James T. Vaughn Correctional Center was taken by inmates on Wednesday, Delaware State Police entered and secured the building around 5am Thursday, reports the Delaware News Journal. Two employees were found inside, one of whom was pronounced dead a short time later. The other employee, a female who was "alert and talking," was "safely rescued and is being examined at a local hospital," the Department of Correction tells ABC News.

The two were among four employees taken hostage at the Smyrna-area prison. The other two officers and at least 41 inmates were released in stages throughout Wednesday. Authorities have shared few other details about the hostage situation or rescue. "This was a long and agonizing situation," Gov. John Carney tells Delaware State News. "Our priority now will be to determine what happened and how this happened. We will hold accountable anyone who was responsible. And we will make whatever changes are necessary to ensure nothing like it ever happens again." (More Delaware stories.)