DELANO, California – A deadly attack at Kern Valley State Prison in Delano, California has once again brought to the forefront the issue of violence within the state’s prison system. Juan Trujillo, 50, was ambushed by eight fellow inmates in a recreational yard and died from stab injuries, making him the fifth inmate killed by fellow incarcerated men in California prisons this year.
The incident occurred on Monday morning, as prison officials witnessed the inmates using inmate-manufactured weapons to fatally injure Trujillo. Despite staff orders to stop, the inmates ignored them, leading to the use of chemical agents to halt the attack. Trujillo was then sent to an outside medical facility, where he was pronounced dead.
It’s been revealed that Trujillo had been serving a 29-year sentence for second-degree robbery, with enhancements for the use of a firearm and a prior felony conviction of a serious offense. The alleged attackers have also been identified, each with their own criminal histories.
The Kern Valley State Prison, which houses over 3,100 inmates, has seen a series of violent incidents in recent months, placing a spotlight on the safety and security of the state’s correctional facilities. This latest attack adds to a string of deadly confrontations across California prisons in 2024, further raising concerns about inmate safety and the need for effective measures to prevent such violence from occurring within the prison system.