A California Department of Corrections officer who was attacked by a group of inmates in April died over the weekend..
Armando Gallegos, a corrections officer at Kern Valley State Prison, was pronounced dead on Friday at Hanford hospital, nearly five months after the attack, according to a news release.
Gallegos and a second officer sustained injuries in the attack by the inmates on April 21.
The 56-year-old officer had worked at the prison since graduating from the Basic Correctional Officer Academy in 2005.
"Our hearts are heavy from the passing of Officer Armando Gallegos. Correctional officers like Armando put their lives on the line every day to keep our prisons and communities safe," California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Secretary Ralph Diaz said in a statement. "We extend our deepest condolences to his wife Irma, his family and friends, as well as our CDCR community, during this difficult time."
The Peer Support Program has been activated to ensure prison employees are provided with intervention and resources to cope with the traumatic effects.
"The Kern Valley State Prison family is deeply saddened by Armando's sudden and unexpected death," Kern Valley State Prison Warden Christian Pfeiffer said in a statement. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Gallegos family and all who were fortunate enough to have known Armando. He will truly be missed."
For seven of those inmates involved in the April 21 attack, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation previously recommended attempted homicide charges to the Kern County District Attorney’s Office.
Information on possible additional charges is pending, per results of Gallegos' autopsy.
