By Teri Figueroa and David Hernandez
The San Diego Union-Tribune
SAN DIEGO —Two correctional officers remained hospitalized Monday, a day after several inmates attacked them and others during a melee in a recreation yard at the state prison in Otay Mesa, a state prisons official said.
Four inmates — including two in prison for first-degree murder — have been identified as suspects in the attack at Robert J. Donovan Correctional Facility, said spokeswoman Terri Hardy of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
Another five officers and two inmates were sent to hospitals, where they were treated and released for injuries received in the brawl.
According to Hardy, there were about 20 inmates in a prison recreation yard just before 4 p.m. Sunday when an inmate hit an officer.
Other inmates — Hardy did not say how many — ran toward the officer. Other officers rushed to help.
Inmates ignored commands to stop the violence, Hardy said, so officers turned to"less-lethal measures.”
One officer fired a warning shot, bringing the incident to an end.
Hardy said “several weapons” were recovered, but did not elaborate.
On Sunday, Hardy initially said six officers suffered stab wounds, lacerations and possible broken bones. On Monday, she said the number of officers taken to a hospital was seven.
Two inmates also were taken to hospitals, and other inmates were treated at the prison’s medical facility.
Four inmates have been identified as suspects in the brawl, Hardy said, noting that they could face charges of attempted murder of a peace officer.
The four suspects include:
- William Barba, 41, who was sent to prison from Los Angeles County in 2000 to serve a sentence of life without the possibility of parole for first-degree murder;
- Joe Mendez, 39, who was sentenced in 2000 in Orange County to 52 years to life with the possibility of parole for first-degree murder;
- Luis Delgado, 24, who was in 2019 was sentenced in Fresno County to 13 years for assault with a semiautomatic firearm; and
- Michael Figueroa, 20, who in 2019 was went to prison from Orange County to serve 10 years and six months for attempted voluntary manslaughter.
State prisons officials said the sentences of Mendez, Delgado and Figueroa also included street gang enhancements.
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