California State Prison, Sacramento Investigating Death of Incarcerated Person as a Homicide

FOLSOM - California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation officials are investigating the death of an incarcerated person at California State Prison, Sacramento (SAC) as a homicide.

On Aug. 18, 2026, at approximately 9:30 a.m., staff saw incarcerated person Julio Caesar Madrigal, 36, striking Incarcerated Person Danny Aguilar, 47. Staff ordered all incarcerated people in the area to get down. Madrigal failed to comply and custody staff fired two less-lethal rounds at him to quell the attack.

Staff immediately began life-saving measures on Aguilar as they transferred him to the prison's triage and treatment area. Officers activated 911. At approximately 10 a.m., a physician pronounced Aguilar deceased. No staff injuries were reported.
Madrigal was restrained and remains in restricted housing pending an investigation by the SAC Investigative Services Unit and the Sacramento County District Attorney's Office. An improvised weapon was found at the scene and Facility C has been placed on modified program. The Office of the Inspector General has been notified.

Aguilar was received from Los Angeles County on Oct. 26, 2006. He was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole.

Madrigal was most recently received from Tulare County on June 9, 2022 after being sentenced to life with the possibility of parole for first-degree murder, a second-strike offense.

SAC opened in 1986 and houses more than 2,200 medium-, maximum- and high-security incarcerated people. SAC offers academic classes and vocational programs and employs approximately 1,500 people.

Danny Aguilar

Julio Madrigal