A fight between three inmates at a Northern California prison turned deadly Sunday after two inmates allegedly attacked another man with a homemade weapon. Despite efforts by prison staff to save him, the 26-year-old victim died.
According to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation on its website, the attack happened around 11:03 a.m. on Nov. 8 in a recreation yard at High Desert State Prison near Susanville.
Prison staff saw 51-year-old Bryan Cook and 31-year-old Rodney Chweya attacking 26-year-old David Long with an improvised weapon. Staff ordered the men to stop and used chemical agents to break up the fight.
Long was taken to the prison's medical area, where staff continued trying to save his life. He was pronounced dead at 11:40 a.m. His family has been notified.
Cook and Chweya were moved to restricted housing while the prison's investigative unit looks into the killing. A homemade weapon was recovered at the scene. Neither man was injured.
The Office of the Inspector General has also been notified.
All three men were serving prison sentences:
26-year-old David Long was serving life without the possibility of parole for multiple counts of first-degree murder and attempted murder, with firearm enhancements. He was transferred to High Desert State Prison from Los Angeles County in April 2024.
51-year-old Bryan Cook was serving two sentences of 15 years to life for second-degree murder and an additional 11 years for voluntary manslaughter. He arrived at the prison in July 2005.
31-year-old Rodney Chweya was serving a seven-year sentence for attempted second-degree murder. He arrived at the prison in May 2020.
High Desert State Prison opened in 1995 and is located near Susanville in Lassen County.
