San Quentin 6 Member Hugo Pinell was slayed by a fellow inmate Wednesday at a Northern California State Prison, where a massive riot eventually broke out.
The 71-year-old convict's murder apparently triggered the anarchy, which involved approximately 70 prisoners at a maximum security prison east of Sacramento, Department of Corrections and rehabilitation spokeswoman Dana Sims told Daily Mail.
"He was definitely the target," Simas revealed to the Associated Press.
At around 12:55 p.m. inmates started brawling inside one of the prison's maximum security yards after one inmate attacked Pinell.
"Everyone else joined," said Dimas, including members of other prison gangs.
The identity of Pinell's killer was not disclosed by Simas.
Correctional officers attempted to initially break up the fight by using pepper sprays. Unfortunately, the sprays were not enough to subdue the chaos so they ultimately fired three warning shots, as per FOX News.
Many inmates were injured during the riot, including eleven with serious stab wounds who were taken to outside hospitals for treatment. Other prisoners were being treated at the prison's on-site medical unit. No prison staff was reported injured.
Inmates involved in the brawl are said to face possible felony charges, according to USA Today.
San Quentin 6 member Hugo Pinell was originally detained at the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation on Feb. 17, 1965 from San Francisco County to serve a life with possible parole sentence for rape with force, abc7 has learned.
The convict also murdered Correctional Officer R.J. McCarthey on March 3, 1971 at a Soledad Correctional Training Facility, landing him a life sentence with parole on May 22, 1972.
Furthermore, Pinell was involved in a grim 1971 San Quentin prison escape attempt that took the life of six people, including two correctional officers, three inmates and Black Panther leader and Black Guerrilla Family prison gang founder George Jackson.
On Sept. 1, 1976, he was sentenced to life in prison with parole for viciously attacking two correctional officers during the break out attempt.
