SAN DIEGO COUNTY, Calif. — Two correctional officers and five other staff members were injured in an attack Sunday at Donovan State Prison in the Otay Mesa area, authorities said Monday. Two inmates were also injured in the incident. The correctional officers remained hospitalized in fair condition as of Monday while the other staff members and inmates had been treated and released, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation reported.
About 20 inmates were in a recreational yard at Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility when an unknown number of them began to attack the officers shortly before 4 p.m. Sunday, said California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation spokesperson Terri Hardy.
Officers gave inmates commands to stop, then used "less-lethal measures" before an officer fired a warning shot, which stopped the attack, Hardy said.
Officers and staff were taken to hospitals for treatment of various injuries, including stab wounds, lacerations and "possible" broken bones, Hardy said. Two inmates were also taken to hospitals, while other inmates were treated at the prison's medical facility.
The extent of the inmates' injuries were not immediately available.
Several weapons were recovered, but authorities did not disclose any further details.
Investigators were looking into the attack, the motive for which was not immediately explained. On Monday, they identified four inmate suspects who could face charges of attempted murder of a police officer. The four were identified as:
- Joe Mendez, 39, was received on Nov. 11, 2000, from Orange County. He is serving 52-years to life with the possibility of parole for first-degree murder, with enhancements for Street Gang Act and intentional discharge of a firearm causing great bodily injury.
- Luis Delgado, 24, was received on June 25, 2019, from Fresno County. He is serving 13 years for assault with a semiautomatic firearm, with an enhancement of Street Gang Act in commission of a violent felony.
- Michael Figueroa, 20, was received on Nov. 6, 2019, from Orange County. He is serving 10 years and six months for attempted voluntary manslaughter with an enhancement of Street Gang Act in the commission of a serious felony.
- William Barba, 41, was received on May 2, 2000, from Los Angeles County. He is serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole for first-degree murder.
