WASCO, Calif. (KGTV) - A teenage inmate at a Central California prison beat to death a convicted child molester Saturday, state prison officials said.
Andres Ayon, 19, began punching 66-year-old Agustin Duran in the face and upper torso in a community room at Wasco State Prison northwest of Bakersfield, according to officials.
An alarm went off, prompting all inmates to drop to the ground. Ayon continued to strike Duran, said officials, who subdued Ayon with a pepper-spray grenade.
Ayon was handcuffed and put in a cell. Duran was flown to a hospital for treatment and died the next morning.
Ayon had been at the prison for about two weeks for second-degree robbery and use of a deadly weapon. Prison officials do not have a motive for the attack.
Duran was starting a 55-year to life in prison sentence for lewd and lascivious acts with a child under 14 years old. He arrived at the prison five days before the beating.
Kern County District Attorney’s Office investigators were called to assist Waco State Prison officials.
