Two inmates killed in separate but related attacks at Vacaville prison, officials say

Two inmates were killed in separate-but-related attacks at California State Prison, Solano in Vacaville on Wednesday, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

Mizrain Nava Cano was attacked in the general population yard by fellow inmates Pedro Garcia and Greg Medrano around 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, according to a news release. Nava Cano was stabbed several times in the neck and back.

Less than a minute later, Jorge Cruz-Banuelos was stabbed in the neck, chest and back by Gabriel Mora and Richard Raya. Officers used blast grenades and pepper spray to stop the attackers, authorities said. Nava Cano, 26, and Cruz-Banuelos, 30, were pronounced dead half an hour after the attacks.

Three weapons were recovered and no officers were injured in the attacks. The incident is being investigated by Solano County District Attorney’s Office and the Vacaville Police Department. The four suspects have been moved to an Administrative Segregation Unit.

Nava Cano had served about three years of a 13-year sentence for voluntary manslaughter and committing a street gang act.

Cruz-Banuelos was serving a 17-year, four month sentence for assault with a deadly weapon, inflicting great bodily injury, criminal gang activity and prior felony convictions.

These are the second and third inmate deaths reported this week after one inmate was killed at High Desert State Prison on Monday.

According to the release, Garcia, 31, is just under two years into a six-year sentence for manufacturing a controlled substance.

Medrano, 38, is serving a 32-year sentence for attempted second-degree murder, carjacking, causing great bodily injury and discharging a firearm.

Mora, 42, is serving a 15-year sentence for assault with a firearm, inflicting great bodily injury, use of a firearm and possession of a firearm by a felon or addict.

Raya, 25, is doing 12 years for assault with a semiautomatic firearm and inflicting great bodily injury.

This story was originally published January 29, 2020 at 8:36 PM.