Death row inmate killed in California prison as guards deploy blast grenades to control violent mob attack

California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) officials are currently investigating a tragic incident that occurred at Kern Valley State Prison in Delano. On Friday, a death row inmate named Mario Renteria, 36, was involved in a violent altercation with fellow inmate Julian Mendez, 46, which resulted in Mendez’s death.

The altercation began around 10:30 a.m. when Renteria allegedly started beating Mendez. Despite orders from prison staff to stop, the men refused to comply. Eventually, more than 30 inmates joined in the attack on Renteria, prompting staff to use chemical agents and blast grenades to intervene.

Unfortunately, Mendez sustained multiple injuries during the altercation and despite life-saving measures being taken, he was pronounced dead at 11:05 a.m. A makeshift weapon was found at the scene of the incident, although the specific type of weapon remains unclear.

Renteria has been placed in restricted housing pending the outcome of the investigation. The prison’s Investigative Services Unit and the Kern County District Attorney’s Office are working together to gather information about the incident. The Office of the Inspector General has also been notified, and Mendez’s cause of death will be determined by the Kern County Coroner.

Mendez had been incarcerated since December 2, 2004, after being convicted of first-degree murder of two teenagers. Renteria, on the other hand, was received from Riverside County on April 27, 2022, and was serving a life sentence with the possibility of parole for first-degree murder and arson.

Kern Valley State Prison, which opened in 2005, is home to over 3,100 inmates with varying levels of security custody. The prison authorities have restricted population movement to aid in the investigation of this tragic incident. Our thoughts are with the families of both inmates involved in this unfortunate event.