Semajs Short, 24, was murdered on March 29, 2022 at Bertie Correctional Institution in Windsor, NC during a fight with other inmates. Semajs was an inmate at the prison.
Semajs was attacked in a housing area at the prison by a number of other offenders. Semajs was left on the ground and guards called for help.
Prison first responders arrived and performed life saving measures on Semajs until local paramedics arrived and also worked to resuscitate Semajs.
However, Semajs was pronounced dead by paramedics around 2:30 p.m.
3 other offenders were injured during the group fight and were taken to an outside medical facility for treatment of non life threatening injuries.
The Windsor Police Department and the State Bureau of Investigation are investigating the incident. The Department of Public Safety is fully cooperating in the investigation and will seek criminal prosecution against any offender involved in the altercation.
The prison was placed on modified lockdown as investigators worked to discover more about what happened and why. No staff members were injured.
Semajs was convicted of second degree murder in Halifax County on April 3, 2017. He was serving a 31-year sentence. He was projected to be released on May 7, 2042.
