Kern Valley State Prison investigating inmate death as homicide

DELANO – Kern Valley State Prison (KVSP) officials are investigating the death of an inmate as a homicide.

At approximately 10:30 a.m. Sunday, staff observed two inmates attacking a third inmate on the Facility D middle yard. Officers ordered the inmates to stop but the men continued their assault.

Less-than-lethal force options were used to stop the attack. Staff immediately performed CPR on Enrique Hernandez and transported him to a medical unit inside the prison. He was pronounced dead at 11:13 a.m.

Officials identified Andrew Guzman, 35, and Andre Ortega, 35, as suspects. They have been placed in segregated housing and movement on Facility D has been limited to facilitate the investigation. The Kern County District Attorney’s Office is assisting KVSP’S Investigative Services Unit. The Office of the Inspector General has been notified.

Two inmate-manufactured weapons were recovered from the scene. No staff members were injured in the altercation.

Hernandez, 44, was received by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) on April 14, 1993 from Los Angeles County. He was sentenced to life with the possibility of parole for second-degree murder, discharging a firearm at an inhabited dwelling/vehicle/aircraft and discharging a firearm at an unoccupied vehicle/ dwelling.

Guzman was received by CDCR on September 28, 2001 from Los Angeles County. He was sentenced to life with the possibility of parole for aiding or abetting rape or penetration with a foreign object and first-degree burglary. Ortega was received by CDCR on August 4, 2004 from San Joaquin County. He was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole for first-degree murder.

KVSP opened in 2005 and houses approximately 3,700 minimum-, medium-, and high-security custody inmates. KVSP offers academic classes and vocational programs and employs approximately 1,750 people.