Inmate dies from rubber-bullet injury
Fri., March 11, 2005
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – An inmate who was left brain-dead after being shot with a rubber bullet by a prison guard died from injuries from the projectile, according to an autopsy report released Wednesday.
Daniel D. Provencio, 28, was shot in the head with the supposedly non-lethal projectile Jan. 16 during an altercation at Wasco State Prison.
He was taken to Bakersfield’s Mercy Hospital, where he remained in a coma and was hooked to a ventilator for weeks before he died Friday.
Prison officials said Provencio was shot in the head by a guard in a tower when he refused to lie down and instead tried to prevent guards from breaking up a fight between two other inmates. The 40 mm projectiles are designed to be fired at arms or legs.
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