News Releases

Inmate Homicide at High Desert State Prison Under Investigation

SUSANVILLE – High Desert State Prison (HDSP) officials are investigating an incident that left one inmate dead.
The incident occurred on Thursday, September 15, at 10:25 a.m. on a maximum-security general population yard when inmate Jesus Carrillo, 35, was attacked by two other inmates with prisoner-made stabbing weapons.
Correctional officers used two instantaneous blast pepper spray grenades to stop the attack. Staff recovered two inmate-manufactured weapons at the scene. No staff members were injured in the incident.
Inmate Carrillo was taken to a community-based medical facility for treatment; however, he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased at 1:57 p.m.
Carrillo was received from Los Angeles County on December 22, 2006, and was serving a sentence of life with the possibility of parole for second-degree burglary, first-degree murder and possession of a firearm by an ex-felon.
HDSP investigators identified Bartolome Nava, 28, and David Figueroa, 33, as suspects in the attack.
Nava was received from Los Angeles County on December 20, 2010, and is serving a sentence of life with the possibility of parole for attempted murder and for possession/manufacture of a deadly weapon by a prisoner.
Figueroa was received from Kern County on December 9, 2011, and is serving a 16-year sentence for possession of a controlled substance, attempted burglary, possession/manufacture of a deadly weapon by a prisoner, criminal gang activity, assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury and use of a deadly weapon.
In addition to HDSP’s investigation, the Lassen County Sheriff and the Lassen County District Attorney’s Office are also investigating. The Office of the Inspector General was notified.
High Desert State Prison, located in Lassen County, opened in 1995 and houses approximately 3,825 minimum-, medium-, and maximum-custody inmates. The institution provides academic classes and vocational instruction and employs more than 1,200 people.