NEOCC prison inmate killed in stabbing
YOUNGSTOWN — An inmate at the Northeast Ohio Correctional Center on Hubbard Road was stabbed to death and other inmates were injured in an 6:25 p.m. altercation Sunday.
Elsewhere in the city, one other person was stabbed over the long holiday weekend and two people suffered gunshot wounds.
PRISON STABBING
At 6:25 p.m. Sunday, officers were called to the East Side private NEOCC for a stabbing. The address was blacked out under Marsy’s Law, which protects victims of crime, but the Mahoning County Coroner’s Office confirmed it was NEOCC in a Tuesday afternoon news release.
When officers arrived at the prison, they spoke with the chief of security and another staff member, the report states. The employees said that just before 5 p.m., a corrections office released inmates from their cells.
As shown on surveillance footage, near rooms 127 and 128, a suspect inmate stabbed another inmate, the report states. The video shows inmates coming out of their cells and the inmate trying to attack the other inmates, but they were “able to find cover.”
As the scene continues, the suspect appears to be “paranoid,” pacing back and forth for a second, “then continues his tirade making his way down to the dayroom and stabbing” someone whose name is blacked out in the police report.
The report states that at 5:02 p.m., four people whose names are blacked out “get together in the day room and stab (name blacked out), seriously injuring him, the report states. He was rushed to St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital, where he later died.
The coroner’s office identified the inmate who died as Isiaha Waulk, 29. An autopsy was conducted at the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office. The stabbing remains under investigation by prison staff, the Youngstown Police Department, the U.S. Marshals and the Mahoning County Coroner’s Office, the coroner’s office news release states.
Other inmates were injured, the Youngstown police report adds. Youngstown police detectives and crime scene personnel were called out to conduct an investigation.
Waulk does not appear to be an Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction inmate based on a search of the ODRC offender website.
Core Civic, the company that runs the prison, responded to a request for information by stating that about 5 p.m. Sunday, “a corrections officer … called an emergency after an altercation began involving U.S. Marshals Service inmates.
“Medical staff at the facility quickly responded to render aid and conduct medical assessments,” the statement continues. It added that “Our partners at USMS were notified of this incident, and further inquiries can be referred to the USMS, Office of Public Affairs.”
It also stated that “the Youngstown Police Department is investigating with NEOCC’s full cooperation. All involved individuals have been identified.”
PHILADELPHIA AVENUE SHOOTING
At 12:34 a.m. Monday, police responded to East Philadelphia Avenue on the South Side for a shooting. When they arrived, they spoke to a man who was shot in the foot and the upper leg.
He was treated by ambulance personnel and then taken to St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital for more treatment, a police report states.
WILBUR, GIBSON SHOOTING
At 5:22 p.m. Saturday, officers were sent to St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital to investigate reports of a shooting. When officers spoke to the man, he told them he was shot at Wilbur and Gibson avenues on the South Side.
He said he was in a yellow house in that area when he saw a Puerto Rican female about 5-foot-3 arguing with someone and fired a gun. It was about 7 a.m., and the bullet hit him in the pinky toe, he said.
The victim appeared to not want to provide additional information about the female. He said he was drunk and that is why he did not remember other details. After a bit more questioning, he said the female was “fluffy,” though it is unclear what he meant by that.
Officers went to Wilbur and Gibson but did not find any shell casings, the report states.
BELMONT AVENUE STABBING
At 2:59 p.m. Sunday, officers were dispatched to St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital for a stabbing. Officers spoke to the brother of the victim, who said he and his brother were at the gas station at the Ultimate Food Mart, 911 Belmont Ave. on the North Side, trying to buy snacks when they encountered an unknown man.
He said the suspect was telling everyone to leave the store, that he was 31 years old and had done eight months in prison and was just released, the report states.
The suspect then became involved in a verbal altercation with his brother, which resulted in the suspect cutting his brother above his left ear. He said the suspect then came toward him so he pulled out his gun, causing the suspect to flee toward a nearby alleyway, the report states.
The victim was not cooperative with the officer, saying he did not see anything and did not want to pursue the matter further. He did not wish to press charges, the report states. The victim had a minor laceration above his left ear, which appeared to require stitches, the report notes.
The victim was treated at St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital and was released.
The victim’s brother described the suspect as being a dark-skinned male with tattoos covering his face, including one that said “East High” above his eyebrow, the report states.
He wore a red hat containing the letter “P.” He wore red and white striped long socks, the report states.


