In an incident that unfolded on Christmas day, an inmate at the Larry Smith Correctional Facility in Banning lost his life following a confrontation with another prisoner. According to a report from the Riverside County Sheriff's Office, the altercation occurred at approximately 8:41 p.m. and was abruptly halted when deputies intervened, utilizing pepper spray to subdue the parties involved.
The subsequent events took a dire turn as one of the inmates, James Hirt, 24, from Norco, became unresponsive post-conflict. Efforts by deputies and medical staff within the jail to resuscitate him were unsuccessful, leading to his pronouncement of death at the scene, as detailed by the Riverside County Sheriff's Office.
The Riverside Sheriff’s Force Investigations Detail along with the Riverside Sheriff’s Corrections Central Investigations Unit responded to the incident and took charge of the investigation. While the exact details of the altercation and the subsequent death remain under a veil of inquiry, authorities have urged the public to come forward with any potentially relevant information. Concerned individuals are encouraged to contact Investigator Scott Anderson of the Riverside Sheriff's Office or District Attorney Investigator JR Ferrer at 951–955–2777, as stated in a press release found on the Riverside Sheriff's website.
