Officials at Calipatria State Prison are investigating the death of an inmate as a homicide.

At about 10:20 a.m. Monday, November 10, 2025, prison staff responded to the report of two individuals attacking 31-year-old inmate Alex Mercado on an exercise yard. Incarcerated persons Javier A. Torres, 27, and 26-year-old Eric Gonzales were restrained. Mercado was taken to a local hospital where he died a short time later. Gonzales and Torres have been placed in restricted housing pending investigation of the attack. 

Mercado was serving 13 years for attempted second-degree murder. Gonzales was sentenced to life with possibility of parole for first-degree murder in Los Angeles County. Torres was most recently returned to prison from parole from Kern County. He was sentenced to six years for carjacking as a second striker.