Two inmates die in ‘separate but related’ stabbing attacks

Two inmates were stabbed to death Wednesday at the California State Prison-Solano in what officials are calling “separate but related” attacks.

Both men, Mizrain Nava Cano, 26, and Jorge Cruz-Banuelos, 30, were outside in a general population yard when they were attacked within seconds of each other about 3:30 p.m., according to prison officials.

The victims, both from Solano County, were stabbed multiple times — Nava Cano in the neck and back and Cruz-Banuelos in the neck, chest and back, prison officials said.

Nava Cano was allegedly attacked by inmates Pedro Garcia, 31, and Greg Medrano, 38, both from Kings County, according to prison officials.

Cruz-Banuelos was allegedly attacked by inmates Gabriel Mora, 42, from Tulare County, and Richard Raya, 25, of San Joaquin County.

Prison officials did not cite a possible motive for the killings.

The attacks are being investigated by the prison’s own officers, the Solano County District Attorney’s Office and the Vacaville Police Department.

Nava Cano had been in prison since May 2017, serving a 13-year sentence for voluntary manslaughter with a gang enhancement. Cruz-Banuelos was serving a 17-year sentence for assault with a deadly weapon, inflicting great bodily injury and criminal gang activity and had been in prison since Feb. 2013, according to prison officials.