SUSANVILLE, Calif. (AP) - State officials say a correctional officer fatally shot an inmate who was stabbing another inmate at a maximum-security prison in Lassen County.

The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation says it sent a deadly force investigations team to investigate Thursday's shooting at High Desert State Prison in Susanville.

Officials say the incident began just after 11 a.m. when two inmates attacked a third inmate in a prison yard, kicking him in the head and stabbing him with a makeshift weapon.

The department says when the attacking inmates ignored orders to stop the assault, an officer fired his weapon, killing one of the inmates.

Officials did not release the fatally wounded inmate's name, but say he was serving an 82-year-to-life sentence for first-degree murder in San Diego County.

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