An attempted homicide investigation is underway in a California state prison after a supervising correctional officer was reportedly attacked by three inmates, authorities announced Thursday.
In a news release, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation said the incident unfolded at around 7:15 a.m. in the dining hall at Pelican Bay State Prison.
Officials said the inmates, Jose Gonzalez and Luis Torres, both of whom were transferred to the prison from Los Angeles County, along with Richard Wilson attacked the officer with an inmate-manufactured weapon before prison staff stopped the attack using pepper spray.
The officer suffered puncture wounds and lacerations. He was rushed to a hospital outside the prison for treatment of his injuries and was admitted for observation, the release noted.
A weapon was found at the scene and placed into evidence.
Gonzalez, 38, was transferred to the prison in 2008, where he was serving a life sentence with the possibility of parole for first-degree murder, intentionally discharging a firearm causing great bodily injury or death among other charges.
Torres, 34, was transferred to the prison in 2014, where he was serving a life sentence with the possibility of parole for first-degree murder and intentionally discharging a firearm causing great bodily injury or death. While in prison, he was sentenced to an additional four years for assault by a prisoner with any means of force.
Wilson, 32, was transferred to Pelican Bay from Sacramento County in 2015, where he was serving a 14-year sentence for driving under the influence with a prior felony conviction of a serious offense and inflicting great bodily injury. In 2018, he was sentenced by San Luis Obispo County to three years for battery on a non-prisoner. In 2021, he was sentenced by Del Norte County to one year for possession/manufacture of a deadly weapon.
“Gonzalez, Wilson and Torres were transferred to another institution for placement in restricted housing,” officials said. “The case will be referred to the Del Norte County District Attorney’s Office for possible felony prosecution.”
Pelican Bay State Prison, founded in 1989, houses more than 2,000 medium, high and maximum-security inmates and is located just 13 miles from the Oregon-California border.
