State police are investigating a deadly inmate altercation at Attica Correctional Facility that left one blood gang affiliate dead and another wounded, officials confirmed Saturday.
Authorities said the violence erupted Friday evening at the maximum-security prison in upstate New York, where two groups of inmates clashed in what investigators describe as a gang-motivated attack. Preliminary reports indicate the fight involved members of the Bloods street gang, with the deceased identified by prison sources as a high-ranking blood affiliate known on the street as High Money.
New York State Police responded to the facility shortly after 7 p. m. Friday after receiving notification of the incident.
Upon arrival, officers found one inmate deceased at the scene. A second inmate was transported to Erie County Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries, officials said.
The New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision Office of Special Investigations is assisting state police with the probe, which remains active. Investigators are reviewing surveillance footage and interviewing witnesses to determine the precise chain of events leading to the homicide.
High Money, whose legal name has not been officially released pending notification of next of kin, was reportedly serving a lengthy sentence. Unofficial accounts from inside the prison system claim the inmate was facing life without parole or a term of approximately 40 years, making the possibility of his release virtually nonexistent.
According to street sources and gang intelligence, High Money was an established Bl00d figure with deep ties to New York Cityâs gang hierarchy. He had been incarcerated for years and was known for his leadership role within the prisonâs blood faction. In recent months, sources say, High Money had attempted to distance himself from gang activity, focusing instead on legal appeals and library visits to fight his case.
âHe was putting in work for years inside, but when he hit his 40s, he decided to slow down and try to get out,â said a prison informant who spoke on condition of anonymity. âHe was going to the law library, trying to find a way to get a second chance. But the streetsâor the yardâhad other plans.â
The attack occurred in the prison yard, where High Money and six other blood affiliates allegedly assembled for what witnesses describe as a premeditated confrontation. The target, sources indicate, was another inmate aligned with a rival blood clique.
The deceased was reportedly killed by an inmate known as âYoung W,â also a blood member. The altercation involved sharp weapons, with High Money suffering extensive injuries. Witnesses told underground prison media that he was âsliced and dicedâ during the melee.
The incident highlights the ongoing violence within New Yorkâs correctional system, particularly at Attica, which has a reputation as one of the most dangerous prisons in America. The facility has been the scene of multiple riots and homicides over the decades, including the infamous 1971 uprising.
âThis is Adicaâone of the worst institutions on American soil,â a source said. âThatâs where High Moneyâs fate was sealed.â
The fight also involved other high-profile blood inmates. According to intelligence obtained by prison gossip networks, two other blood affiliatesâCassanova 2x and Tax Stoneâwere reportedly present or connected to the events surrounding the killing. Cassanova 2x is a known blood rapper with a following in Brooklyn, while Tax Stone is his cellmate and fellow gang member.
Neither Cassanova 2x nor Tax Stone has been publicly charged in connection with the incident, and authorities have not confirmed their involvement. However, the names have circulated widely in underground communications, including kites and messages passed through the prison grapevine.
âCassanova and Tax Stoneâs homeboyâhigh moneyâheâs no more among the land of the living,â said OG Product, a street commentator who posted a detailed account of the incident on social media. âThey geared up for war and went to the yard to put in work. But unfortunately, for High Money, he didnât make it back to his cell.â
The victimâs family has not yet issued a statement. Prison officials have not released the names of any other inmates involved in the altercation, citing ongoing security concerns.
New York State Police are urging anyone with information about the incident to come forward. The investigation is expected to take weeks as forensic evidence is processed and witness statements are collected.
The death marks the second inmate homicide in New York state prisons this year, following a stabbing at Sing Sing Correctional Facility in January. Advocacy groups have called for increased oversight and de-escalation training to reduce gang violence within the system.
âEvery time thereâs a fight between cliques, someone ends up dead,â said a retired corrections officer who worked at Attica for 15 years. âThe gangs run the yard, and the staff canât be everywhere. Until the state addresses the root causesâovercrowding, lack of programming, and the influence of gang leadershipâthese incidents will keep happening.â
The deceased inmateâs street name, High Money, reflects his former status within the blood hierarchy. He was described as a âblazer,â a term used within the gang to denote a high-ranking enforcer or leader.
âHe was a well-respected blood in these mean streets of New York City,â OG Product said in his broadcast. âBut now heâs no more. RIP to the homie.
Boom in peace.â
The other blood affiliates involved in the fight have been placed in restrictive housing pending the investigation. The prison remains on lockdown, with inmate movement strictly limited.
Attica Correctional Facility houses approximately 1,600 inmates and has a history of gang-related violence. The prisonâs S-block, where many high-security prisoners are held, is known for its strict segregation protocols.
The injured inmate, whose identity has not been disclosed, is expected to survive. But officials caution that further charges could be filed as the investigation unfolds.
âWhat happened at Attica Friday night is a stark reminder of the brutality that can erupt inside our prison walls,â said a spokesperson for the state corrections department. âWe are committed to a thorough investigation and will ensure that those responsible face the full consequences of the law.â
The street commentary surrounding the killing has sparked debate about prison safety and the influence of gang culture behind bars. Some argue that the prison system has become a breeding ground for continued criminal activity.
âPeople think once you lock them up, the violence stops. It doesnâtâit just moves into the yard,â said a criminal justice expert. âUntil we address the underlying gang structure, the bloods will keep fighting bloods, and bodies will keep dropping.â
The death of High Money has sent ripples through the incarcerated blood community. Kitesâinformal written messages passed among inmatesâhave been circulating, detailing the events and speculating on who will take over his mantle.
âHe was doing real timeâlife, 40 yearsâhomeboy didnât get a chance to see natural sunlight again,â OG Product said. âHe was sliced and diced into pieces. Thatâs how it goes in the joint.â
As the investigation continues, state police are also looking into whether any correctional officers were aware of the impending fight and failed to intervene. Internal affairs within the prison system may open a separate inquiry.
âWe are exploring all angles,â a police spokesman said. âThis was not a random act. It was a planned attack, and we will find out who helped facilitate it.â
The grieving process among gang affiliates, both inside and outside prison, has been complicated by the nature of the killingâa blood versus blood conflict. Loyalties are being tested, and retaliation may follow.
âRest up, High Money. Boom in heaven, BIPâboom in paradiseâto the fallen soldier,â OG Product said. âMy condolences go out to the family and loved ones.
The other six individualsâseven totalâtheir names werenât revealed, but through the Gwall and contacts, we got the kite that the homie that got clipped is High Money.â
Authorities have not released an official cause of death, but sources indicate sharp force trauma was the primary mechanism. The medical examiner will conduct an autopsy later this week.
The facility has been placed on a modified lockdown to stabilize the population and prevent further violence. Inmates are being allowed out of their cells only for essential movement, and recreation time has been suspended.
âEverybody is on edge,â said an inmate who spoke by contraband phone. âItâs tense. People are picking sides.
Itâs only a matter of time before something else pops off.â
The incident at Attica comes as the state corrections department faces increasing scrutiny over its handling of gang activity. A recent audit found that intelligence sharing between facilities was insufficient, allowing leaders to coordinate violence.
âHigh Moneyâs death is a symptom of a larger problem,â said a former gang intervention specialist. âThe state needs to dismantle these networks, not just lock them up. Otherwise, the next kite will be about another dead body.â
The news of the killing spread quickly through social media and underground prison news outlets, with many sharing tributes and warnings.
âBrooklyn blood rapper Cassanova 2x and his partner Tax Stoneâtheyâre homeboysâtheir affiliate High Money is gone,â OG Product repeated in his broadcast. âThis is breaking news, beloved. Breaking motherfâing news.â
State police are asking anyone with information, including inmates or former inmates, to contact the New York State Police Troop A headquarters or the Office of Special Investigations. Anonymous tips can also be submitted.
The identity of the deceased may be released once family notifications are complete, which could take several days due to the complexities of notifying relatives across multiple states.
This story continues to develop. Check back for updates.
Additional details: The prison yard where the attack occurred is a large open area surrounded by walls and observation towers. Inmates are typically allowed out for an hour each day. On Friday, that hour turned deadly.
âIt was chaos,â said a witness who was in the yard at the time. âThe bloods came at each other like animals. There was screaming, blood everywhere.
By the time the COs got control, it was over. One man down, another bleeding.â
The injured inmate, though stable, remains under guard in the prison infirmary. He may be transferred to an outside hospital if his condition worsens. Police have not ruled out charging him with attempted murder in the event he is found to have instigated the fight.
The rivalry between the two blood factions, one loyal to High Money and the other to Young W, reportedly stems from a dispute over đšđđđ distribution within the prison. âItâs about money and territory, even inside,â a source said. âHigh Money was trying to step back, but the clique didnât like that.
They wanted him gone before he flipped.â
OG Productâs video, which has garnered thousands of views, included the sounds of beatboxing and gunshot effectsâa trademark of his gritty street reporting. âBoom boom boom boomâyou know where it is, man. Itâs your boy OG Product bringing another edition of Garrison News.â
While some criticize such underground media for glorifying violence, others see it as a vital source of information in a system where official communication is limited.
âWe get nothing from the department. They only tell us what they want us to know,â a family member of an inmate said. âPeople like OG Product get the real word out.
Thatâs how we found out about High Money.â
As of Saturday afternoon, the prison had resumed basic operations, but tension remains high. Correctional officers have been ordered to increase patrols and conduct cell searches for weapons.
âThis is not over,â said a veteran CO. âThe bloods will want revenge. We are bracing for the next hit.â
The investigation will also look at whether the facilityâs intelligence unit had prior warnings about the planned attack. If so, questions will be raised about why it was not prevented.
âThis could have been avoided,â said a civil rights attorney who has sued the state over prison conditions. âIf you know there are warring factions, you separate them. You donât let them go to the yard together.â
New York State Correctional Facilities have faced repeated criticisms for understaffing and inadequate training. A 2023 report by the state inspector general noted that assaults on staff and inmates had increased by nearly 30 percent over five years.
Fridayâs death adds to that grim statistic. For the bloods inside Attica, another soldier is gone. For the system, another wound remains unhealed.
âRest easy, High Money. You donât have to fight your case anymore,â OG Product concluded. âPeople donât forget to like, comment, share, subscribe.
Whatâs understood donât have to be explained. On the dead homies. On the fallen soldiers.â
The article will be updated as more information becomes available. For now, the tape remains sealed, the yard is silent, and one family is left to mourn a man known only as High Money.


