Death of 25-year-old prisoner investigated as murder

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Darian Hernandez was found unresponsive in his cell.

VACAVILLE, California. – An inmate found dead in a Vacaville prison is being investigated as a homicide, the state Department of Corrections said Thursday.

Darian Hernandez, 25, was found unresponsive in his cell at Solano California State Prison around 8:10 p.m. Wednesday as officers made security rounds. Emergency services called to the scene tried to save Hernandez’s life, but he died from his injuries at around 20.50.

Hernandez’s cellmate, 23-year-old Jonathan Perez, was removed from the cell and placed in restricted housing while jail investigators and the Solano County District Attorney’s Office investigated the incident.

Jonathan Perez, 23. Darian Hernandez’s cellmate

Authorities did not specify what injuries Hernandez had or name any suspects in his death.

Hernandez was arrested in Monterey County in February 2018 and sentenced to 12 years in prison for assault with force likely to cause great bodily injury as part of street gang action, carrying a loaded firearm in public with a prior felony conviction, and assault with a firearm . Conspiracy as part of street gang activity to commit a serious crime.

During his incarceration, he was sentenced to an additional four years in prison for assault with a deadly weapon or force likely to cause great bodily injury.

His cellmate, Perez, was arrested in Ventura County in January 2021 and sentenced to 15 years in prison for assault with a semiautomatic weapon and use of a firearm causing great bodily injury.