California inmate dies in jail attack, making third in 11 days: police
Two inmates at a northern California prison killed another inmate on Friday, authorities said, the third case in less than two weeks in which an inmate was killed while imprisoned in the state.
The latest murder took place at High Desert State Prison, officials said. Inmates William Lutts, 39, and Timothy Smith, 40, attacked fellow inmate Terence Coleman, 51.
Coleman died following the attack, and authorities are investigating the death as a homicide.
Lutts was also seriously injured and taken to an outside hospital, while Smith was moved to an isolation unit while the case is investigated.
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Authorities say inmate Terence Coleman was attacked by fellow inmates William Lutts and Timothy Smith at High Desert State Prison Friday, Oct. 14, 2022, and died of his injuries. Authorities are investigating the death as a homicide.
(California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation via AP)
Last week, two inmates serving life sentences died after being attacked in California prisons, officials said at the time, one at Salinas Valley State Prison and the other at California Jail. State of California in Sacramento, commonly known as New Folsom.
The three men involved in the latest incident have long criminal histories.
This September 25, 2020, photo provided by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation shows inmate William Lutts.
(California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation via AP)
Coleman was serving a life sentence with the possibility of parole for assault and robbery charges in Yolo County after two previous burglary convictions. In prison, he was sentenced to an additional 12 years for intentional homicide.
Lutts was serving an 18-year sentence in Tuolumne County for assault with a firearm on a peace officer or firefighter. While incarcerated, he was sentenced to an additional nine years for assault with a deadly weapon as a second attacker. This year he was found guilty of making or possessing a deadly weapon and sentenced to two more years.
This September 25, 2020, photo provided by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation shows inmate Timothy Smith.
(California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation via AP)
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Smith is serving a life sentence with the possibility of parole for murder and attempted murder in San Joaquin County. He had previously been sentenced to four years in prison for evading a police officer causing death or grievous bodily harm, stealing a vehicle and failing to appear in court. He was later sentenced to another four years for burglary and theft of vehicle.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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