Correctional officer shoots California state prison inmate to end attack

A Kern Valley State Prison correctional officer shot an inmate Monday after other efforts to break up a fight failed, according to a California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation news release.

Four inmates attacked a fifth with stabbing weapons at about 10:46 a.m. Monday in a yard at the prison, according to the release.

The attackers ignored orders from officers to stop, and kept up their attack as officers deployed multiple chemical agents and other non-lethal weapons. Then an officer fired one round from a Mini-14 rifle, striking one of the inmates, according to the release.

Three inmates, including the victim of the attack, were transported to hospitals. Their conditions weren’t known as of late Monday afternoon, according to the release. No staff injuries were reported.

A deadly force investigation team will conduct an investigation, as will a deadly force review board, according to the release. The corrections department will also notify the Office of the Inspector General’s Bureau of Independent Review, the release states.

This story was originally published April 29, 2019 at 4:59 PM.