Corrections officials are investigating the death of an incarcerated man at Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego as a homicide, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
Jerry Elliott, 43, died Thursday five days after he was found unresponsive following a cell fight with another inmate.
Prison staff responded to the incident around 6:15 a.m. on Aug. 16 and discovered Elliott unconscious. They immediately restrained the other inmate, Aikane Matias, removed him from the cell and began life-saving measures on Elliott while also summoning emergency medical services.
Elliott was taken to an outside hospital, where he died at about 4:25 a.m. on Thursday, CDCR officials said.
No staff or other inmates were injured in the incident, and no weapon was used, CDCR said. Matias has been moved to restricted housing while the investigation is underway.
Elliott was serving a 34-year sentence for multiple felony convictions out of Riverside County, including evading a peace officer causing death and gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated. He had been incarcerated at RJD since July 25, 2024, CDCR said.
Matias, 32, arrived at the prison from Fresno County on Nov. 26, 2024, and is serving an eight-year sentence for first-degree burglary with a prior strike.
The facility’s Investigative Services Unit is working with the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office, and the Office of the Inspector General has been notified. The San Diego County Coroner’s Office will determine the official cause of death.
Officials said movement inside the facility has been temporarily limited to assist with the ongoing investigation.