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Darian Hernandez, found unresponsive in his cell.

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

Darian Hernandez, 25, was found unresponsive in his cell around 8:10 p.m. Wednesday at the California State Prison, Solano, while officers were making 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, Jonathan Perez, 23, was taken from his cell and placed in restrictive housing while jail investigators and the Solano County District Attorney’s Office investigated the case.

Jonathan Perez, 23 years old. Cellmate with Darian Hernandez

Officials have not said what injuries Hernandez suffered or named 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 act, carrying a loaded firearm in public, with a conviction prior felony and assault with a firearm. conspiracy as part of a street gang to commit a serious crime.

While he was jailed, he received an additional four years for a prison offense of assault with a deadly weapon or force likely to cause grievous bodily harm.

His cellmate, Perez, was arrested in Ventura County in January 2021 and sentenced to 15 years in prison for assault with a semi-automatic weapon and use of a firearm to cause great bodily harm.