Tuesday, April 10, 20121 • Inmate shot during attempted murder at prison

Publisher’s note: This story originally appeared in the Tuesday, April 19, 2011 edition of the Lassen County Times.

A 22-year-old inmate at High Desert State prison was shot in the back about 2:15 p.m. Wednesday, April 13 as he and two other inmates allegedly tried to kill a fellow inmate.

The prison’s normal program has been suspended, and all inmates remain locked in their cells pending an investigation into the incident. The identities of the inmates have not been released.

According to a press release from HDSP Administrative Assistant Charlie Hahn, the incident occurred on the Facility D maximum-security general population yard.

Correctional officers observed the three inmates attacking the victim with inmate-manufactured weapons and repeatedly ordered them to stop their attack. They did not. The attackers also ignored non-deadly use of force options as correctional officers fired non-lethal rounds from a 40 mm weapon similar to rubber bullets or a beanbag gun.

Finally, a correctional officer in the yard gun tower fired one round from a Mini-14 rifle, striking one of the attackers in the upper back. The inmates then stopped the attack and complied with staff’s orders.

The inmate who was shot was transported to an outside hospital for additional treatment and currently is listed in stable condition.

He was received by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation June 28, 2010 and is serving a 250-year sentence for five counts of attempted, willful, deliberate, premeditated murder and one count of first-degree murder. He arrived at HDSP March 21.

The 27-year-old inmate who was attacked suffered approximately 30 stab wounds to the head, torso and back. He was treated at the HDSP Correctional Treatment Center and was then transferred to an outside hospital for additional treatment.

The victim was received by CDCR Jan. 12, 2006 from San Bernardino County and is serving a nine-year sentence for one count of assault with force causing great bodily injury. He arrived at HDSP May 9, 2009.

The second suspect is a 22-year-old inmate received by CDCR from Riverside County July 14, 2009. He is serving an 81-year sentence from one count of attempted murder and one count of assault with a firearm. He arrived at HDSP Jan. 11, 2010.

The third suspect is a 21-year-old inmate received by CDCR from Orange County Feb. 18, 2009. He is serving a life without parole sentence for one count of first-degree murder with the use of a firearm. He arrived at HDSP June 15, 2009.

According to the HDSP press release, the Lassen County District Attorney’s Office, the Office of Internal Affairs, the Office of The Inspector General Bureau of Independent Review and the HDSP Investigative Services Unit all are investigating the incident.

All the identified suspects will be referred to the Lassen County District Attorney’s Office for possible prosecution.