On Thursday, September 26, 2024 At Calipatria State Prison, Inmate Alberto Martinez was murdered by other inmates on the prison recreation yard. At about 1323 hours, staff initially observed Inmate Tyler Lua battering Martinez and then Inmates Luis Beltran and Jorge Negrete-Larios joined in on attacking Inmate Martinez.
Multiple uses of force were needed by responding staff to stop the attack. After the attack ended and staff regained control, two inmate-manufactured weapons were recovered from the scene.
Staff attempted life saving measures for Inmate Martinez, as the inmate was transported to an outside hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Inmates Lua, Beltran, and Negrete-Larios were rehoused into restrictive housing.
Martinez, 46, was most recently received from Orange County on Aug. 17, 2010, placed on condemned status for first-degree murder. He was also sentenced to life with the possibility of parole for attempted first-degree murder with an enhancement for street gang activity and two years for street gang activity, to be served concurrent with the condemned sentence.
Lua, 25, was received from San Bernardino County on Jan. 31, 2019, sentenced to 19 years for attempted second-degree murder with an enhancement for use of a firearm. While incarcerated, he was sentenced by Imperial County to two years for having a controlled substance in prison.
Negrete-Larios, 33, was received from Riverside County on July 5, 2016, sentenced to 32 years, four months for attempted second-degree murder with enhancements for inflicting great bodily injury, discharge of a firearm and street gang activity in commission of a violent felony.
Beltran, 31, was received from Los Angeles County on April 6, 2023, sentenced to life without parole for first-degree murder with enhancements for intentional discharge of a firearm causing great bodily injury/death, and possessing/owning a firearm as a felon.
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