Two inmates were being investigated in the death of a 53-year-old fellow inmate at a state prison in San Diego, authorities said Sunday.
Officers responded to an altercation at around 2:20 p.m. Saturday at the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility between inmates Michael Mendoza, 38, and Maurice Vasquez, 49, against fellow inmate Guy Perez, 53, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
Prison staff said they saw Mendoza and Vasquez striking Perez in the torso with “inmate-manufactured weapons.” Orders to stop the attack were ignored and chemical agents were then used to put an end to the assault, according to a statement from the correctional department.
Medical staff were called to the scene for assistance, and they determined Perez had multiple puncture wounds. Life-saving measures were taken and Perez was transported to RJD’s Treatment Triage Area. He was pronounced dead around 3 p.m. Saturday.
Perez was received from Merced County on Jan. 14, 1997, and was sentenced to 25 years to life with the possibility of parole for first-degree murder and kidnapping.
Mendoza was received from Sacramento County on March 5, 2005, and was sentenced to 48 years for two counts of attempted murder.
Vasquez was received from multiple counties, including Sacramento, Santa Clara and Los Angeles County on Oct. 5, 2004, and was sentenced to 50 years to life with the possibility of parole for conspiracy to commit first- degree murder.
Mendoza and Vasquez have been placed in restricted housing, while an investigation by the RJD facility continues.
The San Diego County coroner will determine Perez’s official cause of death.
No staff members or additional inmates were injured, and no further information was available.