An 42-year-old inmate doing time for number of felonies used an improvised weapon to attack two corrections officers at a California state prison in Lancaster, authorities said Monday.
The attack began at about 7:40 a.m. Sunday at California State Prison, Los Angeles County at 44750 60th St. W, when inmate Michael P. O’Neill began stabbing one officer, then set upon a second as the officers were monitoring the morning meal release, according to a news release from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
The second officer was attacked when he went to the aid of the first, officials said.
“Staff quickly quelled the attack without further incident,” the CDCR said in a statement. “No other staff members were injured.”
The officers were taken to an outside medical facility where they were treated and released.
The improvised weapon was found at the scene, officials said.
O’Neill is being transferred to another facility, where he will be in restricted housing. He came to Lancaster from Sacramento County in June 2017 after being sentenced to five years and four months for first-degree burglary, vehicle theft and evading or attempting to evade a peace officer while driving recklessly, second-strike offenses, and second-degree burglary.
He was also sentenced in Tuolumne County in August 2020 to 12 years for second-degree robbery with sentencing enhancements for inflicting great bodily injury on a person 70 years or older and using a firearm.
Peer support services are being offered to the prison’s employees, according to the CDCR.