Attica Prison Riot

September 9, 1971

1,200 prisoners revolt at a New York state prison killing a guard. State police were able to take back control of most of the prison later that day, but 1,281 prisoners occupied an exercise field where they held 39 hostages. Four days later, the police launched a raid using helicopters to drop tear gas on the yard and then fired 3,000 rounds into the haze. Ten hostages and 29 inmates were killed in the raid. It was initially claimed that the inmates slit the hostages’ throats, but autopsies showed the hostages had been shot by police.