California investigating third inmate slaying in one week

SACRAMENTO— California prison officials said Monday that they are investigating the third slaying of an inmate by other inmates within the span of a week, at three different prisons.

The latest was Friday at Pelican Bay State Prison far northwestern California, where officials say Fernando Torres Lopez attacked fellow inmate Uriel Otero in a dayroom. He was pronounced dead less than an hour later.

Otero, 22, was serving a 25-year sentence from Monterey County for attempted second-degree murder with use of a firearm and inflicting great bodily injury during a street gang act.

Torres Lopez, 23, was serving a sentence of nearly 20 years from Santa Clara County for attempted second-degree murder and two deadly weapon assaults during a street gang act.

A week earlier, officials say two inmates killed a third at High Desert State Prison in northeastern California.

An a day later, on July 23, they said two inmates killed a third at California State Prison, Sacramento.

Officials said all three are under investigation, so they couldn't comment on any possible connections.