Jun 21, 3:58 AM EDT


Guard killed at federal prison in SJ Valley

ATWATER, Calif. (AP) -- A guard was stabbed to death Friday by two inmates at a federal prison in Central California, officials said.

The guard, Jose Rivera, 22, was taken to Mercy Medical Center in Merced with stab wounds at about 3:30 p.m. and was declared dead soon after, said Merced County Sheriff and Coroner Mark Pazin.

"Our hearts go out to our fellow officers at the federal prison," Pazin said. "Any time you lose an officer, it's always traumatic."

A brief statement released by the U.S. Penitentiary in Atwater said the officer was stabbed by two inmates with homemade weapons.

Prison spokesman Jesse Gonzalez said he could release no further information.

Pazin said his department will conduct an autopsy while the FBI investigates the incident.

The prison is in the San Joaquin Valley about 64 miles northwest of Fresno.

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Information from: Merced Sun-Star, http://www.mercedsun-star.com

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