Los Angeles, Ca
Inmate's death in California prison investigated as homicide
A homicide investigation is underway into the death of an inmate found unresponsive in his cell at Salinas Valley State Prison in Monterey County, officials announced Tuesday.
California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation officers were conducting security rounds when they made the discovery at 10:45 a.m. Monday, the CDCR stated in a news release.
Officers approached the cell occupied by Colin Hebert, 36, and Jessie Hernandez, 38, and called for medical assistance after observing Hebert was unresponsive.
“Life-saving measures were initiated and he was pronounced deceased at 10:58 a.m. by an institution doctor,” the CDCR stated.
Hernandez was placed on restricted housing pending the investigation.
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Colin Hebert is seen in an image provided by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
“Officers recovered one inmate-manufactured weapon at the scene,” the release stated.
Hebert entered the prison from Riverside County on June 11, 2013, to serve life without the possibility of parole for attempted first-degree murder with an enhancement for intentional discharge of a firearm causing great bodily injury/death and assault with a firearm with enhancements inflicting great bodily injury and use of a firearm.
He also received an eight-year sentence while incarcerated for assault with a deadly weapon as a second-striker, according to the CDCR.
Hernandez entered the prison from Los Angeles County on July 22, 2004, to serve life with the possibility of parole for second-degree murder with an enhancement for use of a firearm and attempted second-degree murder with an enhancement for use of a firearm.
He also received a 12-year sentence while incarcerated for assault by a prison with a deadly weapon as a second striker.
Salinas Valley State Prison opened in 1996 and houses more than 2,500 minimum-, medium-, maximum- and high-security inmates.
About 20 people were detained Saturday during a large police response in Los Angeles’ Koreatown after authorities received reports of an armed man threatening people, officials said. Officers responded to the 3400 block of West 8th Street near Kingsley Drive on reports of an assault with a deadly weapon, according to the Los Angeles Police […]
A former Riverside County man was found guilty of sex trafficking a female victim and forcing her to engage in commercial sex acts along L.A.’s notorious Figueroa Corridor.
Elias Abdul Shabazz, 34, formerly of Perris, was found guilty by a jury following a five-day trial, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.
Prosecutors said Shabazz had led the victim to believe they were in a romantic relationship before he turned physically and sexually violent. He began demanding that the victim engage in commercial sex acts from May to October of 2021, court documents said.
He carried a handgun with him and, on occasion, was accused of using it to pistol-whip the victim. He also fired the gun at her feet while threatening to kill her, prosecutors said.
At trial, the victim said Shabazz demanded that she meet a daily quota of commercial sex proceeds and that she was terrified of the consequences of not meeting that quota.
She testified that Shabazz compelled her to work in the notorious Figueroa Corridor in South L.A., a dangerous area known for human trafficking and prostitution.
Shabazz had confiscated her identification card, Social Security card and birth certificate. He constantly monitored her cell phone to stop her from communicating with any friends or family.
“He also introduced her to addictive narcotics and controlled every aspect of her life, including when she ate, slept and showered,” prosecutors said.
In May 2025, Shabazz was arrested and has remained in federal custody. His last known address at the time was in Washington, D.C.
On June 26, 2026, Shabazz was found guilty of one count of coercing or enticing interstate transportation for purposes of prostitution.
A sentencing hearing is scheduled for Oct. 6, where he faces 15 years to life in prison.
“Sex trafficking matters rank among the most tragic cases our office prosecutes,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli. “This defendant will now face many years in a federal prison cell for his sick, disgusting, and disturbing behavior.”
“Elias Shabazz preyed on a vulnerable victim using physical and sexual violence and cruel psychological coercion to compel commercial sex acts for his own profit,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “There is no place for this type of conduct in civilized society. We deeply respect the victim’s courage to face her trafficker in court. The Criminal Division will continue to bring these cases and try them.”
Anyone with information about human trafficking can report tips to the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-7888
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