Alpine man killed in prison attack

A former Alpine resident serving a state prison sentence for driving a stolen pickup toward sheriff’s deputies was attacked by two fellow prison inmates and died Wednesday, according to state prison officials.

Brenten Kinzenbaw, 27, was attacked by inmates Christian Dumas, 24, and Stephen Archer, 38, around 7:40 a.m. in a recreation yard at California State Prison, Solano, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

The CDCR says “chemical agents” were used to stop the attack. Kinzenbaw was taken to the prison triage and treatment area, but was pronounced dead at 8:15 a.m.

His cause of death remains under investigation, but the CDCR said an “improvised weapon” was found at the scene. Dumas and Archer have been placed in restricted housing pending an investigation.

Kinzenbaw had been sentenced to five years and four months for assault and evading or attempting to evade a peace officer.

In March 2023, deputies approached him while he was behind the wheel of a stolen truck near El Cajon. He accelerated toward the deputies, nearly striking them, then was shot in his legs by one of the deputies. Kinzenbaw continued driving, but crashed and was arrested.

Archer was sentenced to life with the possibility of parole for first-degree murder out of Sonoma County.

Dumas was serving two separate prison sentences from Kern County: eight years and eight months for using tear gas against a police officer and injuring a police dog/horse, as well as a four-year term for evading or attempting to evade a peace officer and vehicle theft.