Riverside County felon allegedly killed by fellow inmate at NorCal prison

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KESQ) - A convicted felon from Riverside County serving a life sentence for crimes committed nearly 30 years ago was killed today in an alleged attack perpetrated by a fellow inmate at California State Prison-Sacramento.

According to the California Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation, the stabbing occurred just before 11 a.m. Tuesday in an unspecified location within the penitentiary.

The agency said that 47-year-old Mario Ortega was walking under escort by correctional officials in a golf cart, who were also escorting 29-year-old Shunki E. Fleming, at the time.  

Both inmates were in hand restraints.   

"Fleming manipulated his way out of his restraints,'' CDCR said. "Once his hands were free, he began battering Ortega.''   

Guards quickly intervened, but Ortega suffered several puncture wounds from an "improvised weapon'' that was seized at the scene, according to the agency.  

Fleming was handcuffed and secured in a "restricted housing unit,'' CDCR stated.  

Ortega was transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.  

The case was under investigation by the prison system Tuesday. A possible motive wasn't disclosed.  

According to officials, Ortega was incarcerated in April 1999, following convictions for kidnapping, carjacking and forcible sodomy. He had received a sentence of life with the possibility of parole. However, during his imprisonment, he committed several offenses at the prison in San Joaquin County, resulting in time added onto his original sentence.   

Fleming was sentenced in Los Angeles County in August 2019 to 42 years behind bars following convictions for robbery, assault and sentence-enhancing gun and great bodily injury allegations. He also perpetrated offenses while in custody that led to more time being tacked onto his sentence,
officials said.