High Desert State Prison officials are investigating the death of an inmate as a homicide after he was attacked by two other inmates.
On November 27th at approximately 2:54 p.m., staff saw inmates Roger Vasquez and Douglas Leon attack inmate Edgardo Herrera between general population yards on Facility D according to details released by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
Officers immediately responded and all inmates on the yard were ordered to get down. When Vasquez and Leon ignored the command, officers used chemical agents to quell the incident.
Responding staff summoned an ambulance for Herrera, provided life-saving measures. Herrera was taken to an outside area hospital where he was pronounced dead at 4:28p.m.
Officers recovered two inmate-manufactured weapons at the scene. No staff members were injured in the altercation.
Vasquez and Leon have been placed in segregated housing pending an investigation into their involvement. Movement on Facility D has been limited to facilitate the investigation.
The Lassen County District Attorney’s Office is assisting HDSP’s Investigative Services Unit. The Office of the Inspector General has been notified.
