Death at Wasco State Prison to be investigated as homicide

Wasco State Prison (WSP) officials are investigating the death of an inmate as a homicide.

At around 7:20 p.m. Saturday, July 7, correctional officers in a dayroom on Facility B responded when inmate Andres Ayon, 19, began striking inmate Agustin Duran, 66, in the face and upper torso with his fists.

An alarm was sounded and all inmates got down on the ground with the exception of Ayon, who continued to strike Duran. Responding staff utilized a pepper spray grenade and Ayon complied and got down on the ground in a prone position.

Staff placed Ayon in handcuffs and escorted him to a temporary holding cell. Duran was placed on a gurney and transported to the triage treatment area, where an ambulance was called.

At 8:23 p.m., Duran was airlifted to an outside hospital. He was declared dead at 4:48 p.m. on Sunday, July 8.

Ayon was treated at WSP for minor injuries and has been placed in the institution's Administrative Segregation Unit while the incident is investigated. He was received into California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) custody June 22, 2018, from Kern County to serve six years for seconddegree robbery and use of a deadly weapon.

Duran was received by CDCR July 2, 2018, from Los Angeles County to serve 55 years to life with the possibility of parole for lewd and lascivious acts with a child under 14 years old.

Investigators from the Kern County District Attorney's Office are assisting in the investigation. The Office of the Inspector General was notified.