Prison authorities say an inmate already serving a murder sentence attempted to kill two guards on Monday morning (April 11) at Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in Otay Mesa.

According to lt. Philip Bracamonte, an inmate "ran up behind a correctional captain and struck him on the back of the head with a large piece of concrete rock." When another officer responded, he was hit in the face with the rock before a third officer was able to help subdue the inmate.

Thirty-six year-old William Dawes, accused of attempted murder on the corrections officials, has been incarcerated since 2008 following a conviction for stabbing his 11-year-old niece to death in Laguna Niguel, an Orange County suburb. He claimed to act under order of "a voice from heaven." He suffered what are described as superficial injuries from guards and was placed in solitary confinement as an investigation continues.

The two guards struck by Dawes were transported to a hospital for treatment of head and face injuries. A third received treatment at the prison. All are expected to fully recover.