Vacaville, CA — A homicide at California State Prison, Solano is currently under investigation following the death of an inmate on Thursday evening, officials reported.
The deceased, identified as 25-year-old Darian L. Hernandez, was found unconscious in his cell he shared with another inmate, shortly after 8 p.m. Emergency responders pronounced Hernandez dead before 9 p.m.
Authorities have named Jonathan M. Perez, the other inmate in the cell, as a person of interest in the case. Following the incident, Perez, 23, was placed in restricted housing as the SOL Investigative Services Unit, coupled with the Solano County District Attorney’s Office, examine the details leading to Hernandez’s death.
Hernandez was serving a sentence since February 13, 2018, having been transferred from Monterey County. His convictions included assault with force likely to cause great bodily injury in connection with a street gang, carrying a loaded firearm in public with a prior felony, and assault with a firearm involving conspiracy as a part of a street gang act. Furthermore, Hernandez received an additional four-year sentence in 2021 for an in-prison assault involving a deadly weapon.
His cellmate, Perez, originally from Ventura County, is serving a 15-year term for assault with a semiautomatic weapon and using a firearm to inflict great bodily injury.
The office of the Inspector General has been notified of the incident, and the Solano County Coroner is tasked with determining the official cause of Hernandez’s death.
This incident highlights the ongoing challenges and dangers associated with prison violence, often exacerbated by overcrowded conditions and gang affiliations within the inmate population. Ensuring the safety of incarcerated individuals remains a complex issue, involving strict supervision and separation of inmates known to pose risks to each other.
The outcome of the investigation will likely add to the discourse on how prison systems manage inmate interactions and the measures in place to prevent violent crimes behind bars.
The results of the coroner’s investigation are awaited to provide clarity on Hernandez’s exact cause of death and further insights into how such incidents might be prevented in the future.
The California State Prison, Solano, and other relevant authorities have yet to release additional comments regarding the ongoing homicide investigation.
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