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The Violent Battle of Alcatraz That Left Five People Dead
In 1946, an escape attempt at Alcatraz erupted into a two-day battle, leaving five dead and cementing the prison’s reputation as inescapable.
To learn the full story, read my article on All That’s Interesting.
In May 1946, Alcatraz Island became the site of a violent and bloody rebellion. What began as a carefully planned escape attempt by six desperate inmates spiraled into two days of chaos and tragedy. By the end, five lives were lost, and Alcatraz's reputation as America's most secure prison was upheld.
The escape plan was masterminded by Bernard Coy, a bank robber convinced he was clever enough to break out of the infamous prison. Coy spent months preparing, even losing 20 pounds to slip through the narrow bars of the gun gallery and gain access to weapons.
But Coy didn’t act alone. He teamed up with fellow prisoners Marvin Hubbard, Joseph Cretzer, and 18-year-old Clarence Carnes, who was serving time in for murder. Two more inmates, Sam Shockley and Miran Thompson, joined the plot at the last moment, seizing the opportunity to escape.
