The death of an inmate yesterday morning at the U.S. Penitentiary-Lee in Lee County is being investigated as a homicide.

Todd Sloop, spokesman for the 1,600-inmate, maximum security prison in Jonesville, identified the slain inmate as Quentin Corniel, 32. Sloop said the facility was still on lockdown today.

The incident, which occurred at 10:21 a.m. and involved another inmate, is under investigation by prison authorities, said Sloop. He said the two inmates were quickly separated and Corniel was taken to Lee Regional Hospital, where he later died.

Sloop said he could not provide any further details such as the cause of death. He said one prior murder occurred at the prison, which opened in 2002. The facility is in far southwest Virginia.

Corniel, serving a 77-month sentence for possessing ammunition while a felon, was due to be released next year.