Video: 2 inmates murdered another inmate in prison as prison guards didnt know what to do, tactical gas was used
Newly released video shows that Joseph Mendoza, 36, was murdered in a stabbing at the Salinas Valley State Prison in Soledad, CA on April 8, 2025. Joseph was an inmate in the prison.
At approximately 5:39 p.m., staff observed incarcerated persons Edgar Frayre, 30, and Nicolas Young, 32, attacking Joseph Mendoza with knives on the day room floor in the prison.
Staff responded and issued several verbal commands to stop, which were ignored. The suspects kept stabbing Joseph for over a minute 180 times.
Blood was seen pouring out of the victim’s body, but the suspects continued to stab him. The jail staff then deployed multiple pepper spray canisters which ultimately quelled the incident. Frayre and Young were also seen kicking Joseph in the face.
Medical aid was initiated for Mendoza; however, he was pronounced deceased at 6:10 p.m. Medical evaluations were conducted on Frayre and Young, and no serious injuries were reported.
Frayre and Young have been placed in restricted housing pending an investigation.
Mendoza was received from Fresno County on July 29, 2009, to serve 22 years and 4 months for robbery (second strike) and attempted murder (second strike).
While incarcerated, he received an additional 4 years for possession/manufacture of a deadly weapon by a prisoner and battery on a non-prisoner (second strike), totaling 26 years and 4 months.
Frayre was serving 50 years and 8 months for voluntary manslaughter and participation in a criminal street gang act.
Young, was serving 25 years for attempted second-degree murder (second strike). While incarcerated, he received an additional 11 years for in-prison attempted second-degree murder (second strike), totaling 36 years. Frayre and Young are with the Norteño prison gang.
The prison provides long term housing for approximately 2,400 minimum and maximum custody inmates. Joseph’s family in February 2026 filed a civil rights lawsuit on the prison accusing correctional officers of failing to intervene during the fatal attack.
