A tragic incident occurred at Calipatria State Prison in Southern California, where a death row inmate, Alberto Martinez, was brutally beaten to death by three other inmates. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation confirmed the incident, stating that Martinez's death is being investigated as a homicide.
The attack was witnessed by prison staff, who saw inmate Tyler A. Lua striking Martinez and knocking him to the ground. Subsequently, two other inmates, Jorge D. Negrete-Larios and Luis J. Beltran, joined in the assault, causing fatal injuries to Martinez.
Prison staff intervened using pepper spray and a baton strike to stop the beating. Two improvised weapons were discovered at the scene, indicating the severity of the attack.
Despite efforts by medical staff to save Martinez's life, he was pronounced dead at the prison's treatment area. The three assailants, Lua, Negrete-Larios, and Beltran, have been placed in restricted housing pending further investigation.
Martinez, 46, was on death row for first-degree murder and had a history of criminal activities, including orchestrating murders while incarcerated. Lua, 25, was serving time for attempted second-degree murder, Negrete-Larios, 33, for attempted second-degree murder with various enhancements, and Beltran, 31, for first-degree murder.
California currently houses 623 inmates with condemned sentences, although Governor Gavin Newsom imposed a moratorium on the death penalty in 2019. The state's last execution took place in 2006, reflecting the ongoing debate surrounding capital punishment in California.
