SUSANVILLE – California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation officials are investigating an attack on a peace officer at High Desert State Prison (HDSP) as an attempted homicide.
On Nov. 20, 2024, at approximately 10:38 a.m., incarcerated person DeAndre Howard, 42, was in a general population patio area when he allegedly approached a peace officer and began stabbing them with an improvised weapon.
Staff immediately responded to assist the officer from the area, restraining Howard without further incident. Several staff members received minor injuries; no additional incarcerated individuals were injured.
Medical personnel were summoned and 911 was activated. The officer was immediately transported to an outside medical facility where they were treated and released.
An improvised weapon was found at the scene.
Howard suffered minor injuries and was transported to a different institution where he will be placed in restricted housing. CDCR officials are currently investigating the incident. The case will be referred to the Lassen County District Attorney’s Office for possible felony prosecution.
Peer support services are being offered to employees.
Howard was received on Oct. 29, 2018, sentenced by Los Angeles County to 26 years, four months for second-degree robbery and possessing/owning a firearm as a felon, both second-strike offenses, with enhancements for use of an assault weapon. While incarcerated, he was sentenced by Kern County on June 28, 2023, to life with the possibility of parole for battery on a non-incarcerated person, an in-prison offense, as a third striker with enhancements for inflicting great bodily injury and prior felony convictions of a serious offense. On Aug. 25, 2023, he was also sentenced by Sacramento County to six years for assault by an incarcerated person with any means of force likely to produce great bodily injury and on Sept. 14, 2023, by Kern County to six years for battery on a non-incarcerated person, both in-prison offenses.
Activated in 1995, HDSP is a high-security prison in Susanville that houses about 2,700 Level I – IV incarcerated individuals and employs about 1,700 staff. The institution houses those serving long-term sentences, those requiring specialized mental health programming, and incarcerated people with high-risk medical concerns. The institution also provides work, career technical education, academic, self-help, art, religious and other rehabilitative programs.
