The death of a 25-year-old inmate is being investigated as a homicide

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

Darian Hernandez, 25, was found unconscious in his cell at California State Prison, Solano, around 8:10 p.m. Wednesday as officers made their security rounds. Emergency services were called to the scene and attempted to save Hernandez’s life, but Hernandez succumbed to his injuries around 8:50 p.m.

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 case.

Officials 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 for assault with force likely to cause serious bodily injury as part of a street gang, carrying a loaded firearm in public with a prior felony conviction, and assault with a firearm. conspiracy as part of a street gang committing a serious crime.

While in prison, he received an additional four years for a felony count of assault with a deadly weapon or violence likely to cause great bodily harm.

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