Another Inmate From Riverside County Killed During Beating

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — A 44-year-old inmate from Riverside County was allegedly pummeled to death by his cellmate at a Central California prison, authorities said Friday. It was the second announcement this week of an inmate's beating death.

Adrian Rodriguez died Thursday night at Corcoran State Prison after an attack allegedly perpetrated by 29-year-old Daniel Santos, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

CDCR officials said prison guards spotted an assault underway in the cell occupied by Rodriguez and Santos about 8:15 p.m.

Staff used pepper spray to halt the assault before entering the cell and performing CPR on Rodriguez, who was pronounced dead 30 minutes later. Santos was taken into custody and placed in an isolation unit pending further investigation, according to CDCR.

Rodriguez was originally sent to Corcoran in July 2007, following convictions in Riverside County for felony evading and driving recklessly. In the second year of his incarceration, he attacked a fellow inmate with a weapon, inflicting serious injuries, resulting in a conviction and sentence of nine additional years in the state penal system.

In 2013, he was caught carrying a weapon, leading to another in-prison conviction, with two years tacked on to his nine-year term.

According to CDCR, Santos was incarcerated at Corcoran in January 2018 after he was convicted in Imperial County of firing at an inhabited dwelling, for which he was sentenced to seven years behind bars.

A possible motive for the alleged attack was not disclosed.

The fatal beating was the second killing this week involving an inmate from Riverside County. An inmate was fatally beaten by fellow prisoners at the Smith Correctional Facility in Banning on Tuesday. Read more: Inmate Killed In Banning Jail Was Accused Of Child Molestation