State prison officials have launched a homicide investigation after a convicted Alameda County murderer died Thursday night following an incident at a Central Valley prison.
According to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, 35-year-old Jacob Kober was found unresponsive and suffering from serious injuries in his cell at Kern Valley State Prison around 7:20 p.m. His cellmate, 39-year-old Matthew Perez, was also found injured.
Officials said Kober and Perez had injuries consistent with a weapon manufactured at the jail. Kober was taken to the jail’s triage and treatment unit but was pronounced dead by paramedics at 7:52 p.m.
California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
Perez was taken to an outside medical facility for treatment. No other injuries were reported.
Authorities would not elaborate on the type of weapon used in the incident.
Prison records show Kober was admitted to prison in 2005 after being sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole for first-degree murder, with a sentence enhancement for intentionally discharging a firearm.
Perez, a native of Monterey County, was sentenced in 2012 to 18 years in prison for assault with a firearm with associated gang charges and use of a firearm.
In 2014, Perez was sentenced to eight years for an assault in prison. Two years later, he was given a further two-year sentence for possession of a controlled substance while in custody.
Kern Valley State Prison is located near the community of Delano and houses more than 3,100 inmates.
