Attempted Homicide of High Desert State Prison Officer Under Investigation

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 was allegedly in a general population patio area when he approached a peace officer and began stabbing them with an incarcerated person manufactured 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 inmate-manufactured 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.

Deandre Howard, 42, was sentenced to one year, four months for forging a driver's license on July 23, 2001. He was received from Los Angeles County on Aug. 29, 2001. He was released to parole supervision on Feb. 2, 2002, after serving his full sentence as defined by law. On Nov. 6, 2003, he was returned from parole to serve life without parole for first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder.

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.