CORCORAN – California State Prison-Corcoran (CSP-COR) officials are investigating the death of an inmate as a homicide.
On Friday, August 17 at 8:46 p.m., officers heard a loud noise during security checks. Upon arrival, they observed Johnny Lopez lying on the floor unresponsive, while his cellmate Eduardo Gutierrez stood above him. Staff made entry to the cell and began administering life-saving measures to Lopez. He was pronounced dead at 9:38 p.m. in the prison’s correctional treatment center.
CSP-COR’s Investigative Services Unit has launched an investigation into the incident. The Kings County District Attorney’s Office was notified, as was the Office of the Inspector General.
Lopez, 24, was received by CDCR in August 2017 with a three-year sentence for first degree burglary out of Ventura County.
Gutierrez, 34, was received by CDCR in May 2013 from San Diego County with a 24-year sentence for voluntary manslaughter, personal use of a deadly weapon, and possession/manufacture of a deadly weapon as a second-striker.
California State Prison, Corcoran opened in 1988, employs approximately 2,500 people and houses approximately 3,200 minimum-, medium-, maximum-, and high-security custody inmates. The prison provides inmates with work, vocational, academic, educational, self-help, religious and other rehabilitative programs and has a fully licensed correctional treatment center.
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Contact: Lt. Edward Sanchez; (559) 992-6104