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Boy sings for 'love, sweet love' in response to NC prison attack

ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. — A boy is calling for love after four correctional officers died after an attempted prison escape in North Carolina.

Abel serenaded a camera while holding a sign showing the names of those four employees. He even cried at the end of the video.

Last month, four inmates set a fire inside the sewing plant at Pasquotank Correctional Institute in Elizabeth City.

Their escape was unsuccessful and two employees died during the fire. Two others passed away in the days following.

Abel said he made the video because his community is hurting and wants peace for everyone.

Geoffrey Howe, a maintenance mechanic at Pasquotank Correctional Institution, was the most recent employee who died. He suffered injuries during the failed inmate escape attempt on Oct. 12.

[Third worker dies from injuries in North Carolina prison attack]

“Our thoughts, prayers and condolences go out to the Howe family,” Department of Public Safety Secretary Erik A. Hooks said. “This tragedy has horribly impacted the lives of four families, as well as co-workers and friends.”

Howe is the fourth person to die from injuries suffered on Oct. 12.

Correctional Officers Justin Smith and Wendy Shannan, as well as Correction Enterprises sewing plant manager Veronica Darden, died from injuries suffered during the incident.

Howe, 31, celebrated his one-year anniversary with the Department of Public Safety in August.

The prison continues to be on lockdown. Members of the Prison Emergency Response Team from other state prison facilities continue to assist the local prison staff. Four inmates were charged with first-degree murder in connection with the failed escape attempt.

Pasquotank Correctional Institution currently houses approximately 676 male inmates in close, medium and minimum custody.

Statement from Gov. Roy Cooper:

“Geoffrey Howe was a valued member of his community and his workplace and he will be greatly missed. We send our heartfelt sympathies to his loved ones and wish for them comfort during this difficult time. We owe it to Geoffrey and his fallen coworkers to do all we can to keep an attack like the one that claimed their lives from ever happening inside our prisons again, and that’s what I’ve directed prison leaders to do."

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