October 5, 2026 – CRESCENT CITY, CA – California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation officials are investigating the death of an incarcerated person at Pelican Bay State Prison (PBSP) as a homicide.

On October 4, 2026, at approximately 8:24 a.m., correctional staff observed incarcerated person Jose Zapian attack incarcerated person, Javier Torres in the lower yard. Responding staff immediately intervened, quelling the attack.

Staff activated 911 and initiated life-saving measures. An improvised weapon was recovered at the scene.

Torres was transported to a higher-level medical facility where he later succumbed to his injuries. He was pronounced deceased at 9:25 a.m. by a medical doctor.

Zapian was placed in restricted housing pending an investigation by the PBSP Investigative Services Unit and the Del Norte County District Attorney’s Office. The Office of the Inspector General has been notified.

Torres, 47, was most recently received from Los Angeles County on February 14, 2005, sentenced to life with parole for attempted first degree murder of a peace officer/firefighter.

Zapian, 37, was most recently received from Los Angeles County on January 17, 2014, sentenced to life without parole for first-degree murder.

PBSP houses minimum, medium, and maximum-security male incarcerated persons. The institution opened in 1989 and is located on 275 acres on the North Coast of California, 13 miles from the Oregon/California border. PBSP houses more than 2,100 incarcerated people and employs about 1,400 staff.

Source: CDCR