Murder at High Desert State Prison raises questions about prison preparedness

INDIAN SPRINGS (KTNV) – A murder investigation is underway at High Desert State Prison after an inmate was stabbed to death. The incident now raises alarming questions about the facility’s preparedness to tackle the state’s most violent criminals.

“I don’t know what the motive was, but they both went into town with what I’m told are 10-inch prison-made shafts,” said Paul Lunkwitz, president of the Fraternal Order of Police Nevada CO Lodge. 21.

Lunkwitz, the president of Nevada’s largest prison workers union, spoke about the fatal incident involving two former cellmates.

Authorities with the Nevada Department of Corrections confirmed via Channel 13 that the inmates were recently transferred to High Desert State Prison from Ely State Prison, Nevada’s long-standing maximum security prison.

“This is just another incident in the cycle that is happening in High Desert right now,” Lunkwitz said.

Lunkitz said the cycle began this summer after one of Nevada’s largest prisoner transfers to date.

In a statement, NDOC officials shared that the two men had a history together.

“Yes, we can confirm that the incident occurred, resulting in one death. We cannot provide any further details about the crime or the victim as this is an active investigation. We can also confirm that the incident was not related to the move to High Desert State Prison. The two were cellmates and were previously cellmates at Ely State Prison. They were cellmates for approximately 258 days and thereafter were housed in the same unit with no previous incidents or reported problems.”

Despite this long period with no recorded incidents between the two, Lunkwitz believes their transfer to High Desert, under controversial circumstances, may have contributed to what happened.

“It’s not an everyday occurrence for the most part, but it’s becoming more common in High Desert, that’s for sure. Our boys and girls on the front lines are being subjected to completely inhumane treatment and much of this is largely preventable,” Lunkwitz said.

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Correctional officers began raising concerns months ago that HDSP lacked the infrastructure, staffing and training to handle the influx of inmates with violent histories. Despite their warnings, the NDOC initiated the prisoner exchange in July, arguing it was necessary to reduce overcrowding and redistribute resources.

“It wasn’t rocket science when we told them we weren’t ready. The cops aren’t ready for it. The facility is not ready yet,” Lunkwitz said.

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Lunkwitz wonders what else could happen with the prison’s limited resources already dangerously stretched and officers unable to adequately monitor fugitive inmates.

“Every day we have officers being pushed around with urine, feces, broken windows, fires being set, while the supervisor tells me it’s one incident after another. Bad things are going to happen and this is what we’re seeing,” Lunkwitz said.