Texas Death Row Inmates Take Guard Hostage

Two armed death row inmates grabbed a female correctional officer Monday and were holding her hostage.

The inmates were talking to the warden and attempting to reach a resolution but officials were not hopeful that the situation would be resolved quickly, said Texas Department of Criminal Justice spokesman Larry Todd.

A spokesperson for Texas Gov. George W. Bush said he "is aware of the situation."

"It’s a serious situation and Gov. Bush has been assured that the prison off and local law enforcement are doing all they can to resolve the crisis without injury," said Linda Edwards.

The inmates got out of their cells around 4:15 p.m. and grabbed the guard, whose name was not released. It was unclear how the inmates got out of their cells.

The officer, who was not harmed, was handcuffed and sitting on the floor in the recreational area at the Terrell facility, Todd said.

Death row inmates are being relocated to the Terrell unit from the Ellis unit near Huntsville due to an escape attempt by seven inmates there in 1998. One inmate to made it out but drown in a creek about a mile from the prison. The two inmates who took the hostage Monday participated in the botched escape.