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BEAUMONT — A gang fight at the United States Penitentiary in Beaumont that left two dead and two injured has lead to a national lockdown on federal prisons.

At approximately 11:30 a.m. Monday, multiple inmates were observed fighting at USP Beaumont, according to a release from the U.S. Department of Prisons.

Responding staff immediately secured the area, which is located in the correctional complex just outside of Nederland.

Inmate Guillermo Riojas and inmate Andrew Pineda were taken to a local hospital for life-threatening injuries, and were subsequently pronounced deceased by hospital staff, according to the Prisons Department.

Two additional inmates were taken to a local hospital for further medical assessment and treatment.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation was notified.

No staff or other inmates were injured and at no time was the public in danger, officials said.

Riojas was a 54-year-old male who was sentenced in the Eastern District of California to 456 months for carjacking and interference with interstate commerce.

He had been in custody at in Beaumont since May 1, 2013.

Pineda was a 34-year-old male who was sentenced in the Central District of California to 78 months for racketeer influenced and corrupt organizations conspiracy.

He had been in custody at Beaumont since Feb. 16, 2021.

According to information from the Associated Press, the fight involved members of the MS-13 gang. Concerns regarding retaliation or additional violence prompted a lockdown on the 120-plus federal prisons in the country.

When in lockdown, inmates spend a majority of their day in their cell and cannot receive visitors.

USP Beaumont is a high security facility that houses 1,372 male offenders.

Additional information about the Bureau of Prisons can be found at www.bop.gov.