California Correctional Center officials are investigating the death of inmate Richard Leyva, 37, as a homicide.
According to details provided by the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, on January 7th, just before 10:30a.m., officers responded when to inmates, identified as Luiz Ortega and Vincent Martinez, attacked Leyva on the yard at Facility C, a Level III general population yard.
“The two ignored officers’ verbal orders to stop and staff used pepper spray and two pepper-spray blast grenades to stop their attack,” explained Correctional Lieutenant Ruggiero.
Leyva suffered multiple stab wounds. Medical staff immediately initiated life-saving measures and he was being transported by ambulance to a hospital in Susanville when he succumbed to his injuries.
Leyva was admitted from Monterey County on September 26th, 2011, to serve a 14-year sentence for assault with a firearm. He was also serving an eight-year sentence for assault by a prisoner with a deadly weapon or force likely to produce great bodily injury, an in-prison offense.
Two inmate-manufactured weapons were recovered. CCC’s Investigative Services Unit is investigating this incident and the Office of the Inspector General was notified.
