High Desert State Prison, Facility C Yard: Two Incarcerated Men Attack David Long With an Improvised Weapon
SUSANVILLE, CALIFORNIA (November 8, 2026): David Long, 26, died in custody at High Desert State Prison near Susanville on Sunday, November 8, 2026, after two other incarcerated men attacked him with an improvised weapon on a recreation yard, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR). The department is investigating his death as a homicide. KRCR and KOLO 8 also reported the death, citing CDCR officials.
According to CDCR, staff saw the attack at about 11:03 a.m. on a Facility C recreational yard. Officers gave verbal orders and used chemical agents to stop it, then called 911 and began life-saving measures. Long was taken to the prison’s treatment and triage area, where medical staff pronounced him dead at 11:40 a.m. His next of kin has been notified, the department said.
The two men CDCR identified as the attackers, ages 51 and 31, were placed in restricted housing while the prison’s Investigative Services Unit investigates. Neither man was injured, and staff recovered a weapon made by an incarcerated person at the scene, CDCR said. No charges have been announced; both men are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court. The Office of the Inspector General, which monitors CDCR investigations, was notified. High Desert State Prison opened in 1995 in Lassen County and houses people at several custody levels.
CDCR has not said what led to the attack, how the weapon was made or brought onto the yard, how many officers were watching the yard at the time, or whether Long had reported any threat before the attack. An official cause of death has not been released. These are early accounts from the department, and initial findings sometimes change as an investigation moves forward.
Liability for the Death of David Long at High Desert State Prison
Under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, a person whose constitutional rights are violated by someone acting under government authority may generally bring a civil claim. For people serving a prison sentence, the Eighth Amendment requires officials to take reasonable measures to protect them from violence by other incarcerated people. In Farmer v. Brennan (1994), the U.S. Supreme Court held that a prison official can be liable when the official knows of and disregards an excessive risk to an inmate’s safety. California Government Code § 845.6 also addresses the duty of public employees to summon immediate medical care for a prisoner who needs it, and Code of Civil Procedure § 377.60 generally allows certain family members to bring a wrongful death claim.
- Known risks: Whether staff knew of any threat between Long and the two men, through earlier incidents, housing and yard assignments or reported concerns, is a central question under Farmer.
- The weapon: CDCR said a weapon made by an incarcerated person was recovered. How it was made and how it reached the yard can point to search and supervision practices.
- Yard supervision: Staff saw the attack and used chemical agents to stop it. Where officers were posted, how quickly they reached Long and any yard video are records an investigation can examine.
- Medical response: CDCR’s timeline runs from the attack at 11:03 a.m. to the death pronouncement at 11:40 a.m. How emergency care was given in that window can be part of any review.
These are general principles of federal and California law, not conclusions about the death of David Long, which remains under investigation by CDCR.
Steps to Take After a Death at High Desert State Prison
Deaths in state prisons are tracked nationally: in 2019, 3,853 people died in state prisons or private facilities under state contract, according to the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics report Mortality in State and Federal Prisons, 2001 to 2019. Families who lose someone in a California prison can take these steps (our guide explains more: what to do if a family member dies in custody in California):
- Contact CDCR and the prison: Ask High Desert State Prison and CDCR for the incident or log number and the name of the investigator, and how the family will be informed of findings.
- Ask about the coroner: The coroner in Lassen County can explain how the family can request the autopsy report and the death certificate once they are available.
- Request records: Write down the dates, names and facility details you have, and ask in writing how to request records about the death and the investigation.
- Keep letters and messages: Save letters, phone and video visit records, and any messages in which your loved one described threats or safety concerns.
Legal deadlines and notice requirements apply after a crash, injury or death, and they vary with the facts of each case, the location and the parties involved, including any public agency. Contact an attorney as soon as possible to protect your rights.
Investigating the Death of David Long
We at Carrazco Law, A.P.C., a personal injury and civil rights law firm in Irvine, California, extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of David Long. Important questions remain: Did staff have any warning that Long was at risk from the two men before they were on the same yard? And how was a handmade weapon able to reach the Facility C recreational yard? CDCR is also investigating the November 5 death of Dennis Romero at California State Prison, Sacramento as a homicide.
If a loved one died or was seriously injured while in custody anywhere in California, our civil rights attorneys can help you understand your rights and legal options. Call us anytime at (800) 541-3244. Se Habla Español. Free consultation.
Published on November 10, 2026 by M.M., Carrazco Law, A.P.C. The incident described in this article occurred on November 8, 2026.
