Two inmates held in fatal attack at California State Prison, Sacramento

Two inmates, Justin Castro, 47, and Luis Mendoza, 33, are being held following a fatal attack on a fellow inmate at California State Prison, Sacramento. The incident occurred Monday evening in a housing unit's upper tier.

According to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), prison guards observed the attack and issued verbal orders to “get down.” When the inmates ignored these commands, staff fired five less-lethal 40mm rounds to stop the assault. Two improvised weapons were recovered at the scene.

The victim, 39-year-old Carlos Montenegro, was transported to the prison’s triage area, where paramedics pronounced him dead. Montenegro had been serving a six-year sentence for assault with a deadly weapon.

Both Castro and Mendoza, who were serving life sentences for various offenses including attempted murder, have been placed in restricted housing. The Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office and the Office of the Inspector General are involved in the ongoing investigation.