DeColby Hester gives firsthand account of June 21 Horizon riot
Youth Development Specialist DeColby Hester gives a firsthand account of the June 21 Horizon riot. He describes weapons, keys taken from staff, overcrowded housing units with 22 residents each, a five-plus-hour riot, injuries at Lincoln Hospital, and NYPD being denied entry twice.
Good evening.
My name is DeColby Hester.
Pardon me.
Good evening, Chair Stevens and all others in attendance.
My name is Jacoby Hester.
I am a youth development specialist at Horizons Juvenile Detention Center.
I'm here to provide firsthand observations and information regarding workplace safety, staffing, security procedures, and the conditions under which youth development specialists are expected to perform their duties.
I understand you just painted a beautiful picture, but let me tell you the truth.
June 21st, 2026, at approximately 4.45 p.m., a serious disturbance occurred inside the facility involving residents attacking staff to the assigned housing units.
Based on the information and accounts available to staff, weapons involved in the incidents included surgical scalpels, shanks, screwdrivers, meat cleavers, and other improvised weapons.
Once fear was established by the youth, keys were forcibly removed from the staff's possessions.
Residents then vacated their assigned housing units and gained access to upper B quarters.
The situation...
as residents from multiple housing units came into contact with one another.
The housing units involved included units E, F, and G.
Although these units are ordinarily designed to accommodate approximately 15 individuals, I understand that the housing units had 22 residents each.
This raises concerns regarding overcrowding, supervision, and the ability to maintain safe operations.
During the disturbance, youth development specialists attempted to intervene and restore order using defensive tactics and restraint techniques available to them.
The SCM tactics are antiquated and do not include weapons retrieval.
YDS were rendered defenseless and made to observe youth and staff get sliced, punched, slammed, and even staff shanks having shanks held to their throats.
The riot continued for five plus hours.
I arrived later that evening as I was slated to work.
However, I came in my union capacity, my union delegate capacity.
I was then directed by SSEU Local 371 Vice President Derek Robinson to report to Lincoln Hospital to document injuries sustained by employees during the incident.
Be it known that no member of executive management showed any care or concern or visited the hospital while I was there.
At hospital, I personally observed several employees receiving treatment for serious injuries.
These include deep lacerations, significant facial and head trauma injuries involving eye
sockets and other wounds consistent with the accounts of the violence inside the facility.
I also observed a colleague receiving anesthesia so that medical personnel could treat and reposition his injured arm.
These first-hand observations reinforce my concerns about the risk employees face when facility security and staff arrangements fail to provide adequate protections.
I also take reservation to NYPD.
Ten seconds.
NYPD being denied entry not once but twice on that day.
I thank you for your time and consideration, and I welcome all questions.