LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Jail authorities are investigating a suspected homicide at Excessive Desert State Jail. Inmate Fawaz Al-Zaid, 33, died Sunday, in line with the Clark County coroner’s workplace.
Whereas a spokesperson for the coroner stated Al-Zaid’s trigger and method of demise have been pending Wednesday, a number of sources reached out to the 8 Information Now Investigators about what they described as a suspected homicide.
Al-Zaid started serving a three-to-nine-year jail sentence in Aug. 2024 for tried homicide with use of a lethal weapon and assault with a lethal weapon, in line with the Nevada Division of Corrections.
Al-Zaid initially confronted at the least 10 fees in his newest case in Clark County, together with possession or possession of a firearm by a prohibited particular person, youngster abuse, neglect, or endangerment with use of a lethal weapon, destroying proof, two counts of assault with a lethal weapon, and 5 counts of discharging a firearm at or into an occupied car.
Al-Zaid’s demise marks at the least the fourth suspected murder within the maximum-security jail in lower than seven weeks.
Jacob Herman, 35, died on July 16, in line with the division. Herman was serving a 12-to-36-month sentence for larceny from an individual. Herman was initially charged with theft, agreed to a plea deal, and acquired a suspended sentence in Clark County, in line with courtroom data. A choose despatched him to jail in Might 2024 for violating the phrases of probation, data present.
Jordan Canteberry, 34, died on July 26 from a number of stab wounds, the coroner decided. Canteberry started serving a 12-to-30-month sentence for theft and possession of a firearm by an ex-felon in June, in line with data. His theft cost stemmed from a December 2024 theft. Canteberry agreed to a plea deal in a second case after he was initially charged with three gun fees. Sources advised the 8 Information Now Investigators that inmates tampered with their cell doorways to flee their cells earlier than attacking Canteberry.
D’marea Wallace, 18, died from a number of stab wounds on Aug. 6, in line with the coroner’s workplace. He started serving a three-to-eight-year sentence in December 2023 for theft.
Excessive Desert State Jail transitioned from a medium-security jail final 12 months. Two thousand inmates, together with Nevada’s demise row inhabitants, have been transferred from Ely State Jail, situated almost 300 miles north of Indian Springs.
At neighboring Southern Desert Correctional Heart, a medium-security facility, sources stated the demise of Ryan Anthony Warren-Hunt on Aug. 11 was additionally being investigated as a murder. The coroner’s workplace advised the 8 Information Now Investigators Wednesday he died of a number of sharp pressure accidents, the widespread time period for repeated stabbings.
Nevada jail leaders stated ‘drug debt’ seems to be an element after the 8 Information Now Investigators first reported on the string of alleged homicides.
The Division of Corrections is “consulting outside experts to determine ways to curtail the influx of contraband and illegal substances into the institutions,” Director James Dzurenda stated.
Jail leaders beforehand advised the 8 Information Now Investigators that a method unlawful substances have been getting inside jail services is thru the mail.
Authorities arrested Hoza Del Collins, a former Nevada inmate, final month. He despatched fentanyl-laced paper disguised as authorized mail to inmates in Nevada and California, in line with a Las Vegas Metro police report obtained by the 8 Information Now Investigators.
Collins, 30, marketed his alleged drug dealing on social media, made posts revealing the method and provides, and was caught on surveillance video personally sending the drug-laced mail, police stated. He faces fees together with second-degree homicide for supplying substances inflicting demise, promoting or transporting managed substances, and furnishing managed substances to a state prisoner. He was incarcerated from February 2016 to February 2017 after he violated probation in a housebreaking case, in line with data.
Investigators stated in at the least one case, an inmate died from Collins’ drug provide.
Collins agreed to an interview from jail with the 8 Information Now Investigators on Tuesday after which refused to point out up for the interview Wednesday. A choose set his bail at $250,000 and scheduled a preliminary listening to for Oct. 16.
Infrastructure issues, together with defective cell door locks and a scarcity of air con, have been ongoing points in Nevada prisons, in line with sources.
Critics have questioned the position of inmates, for instance, a low-level offender being positioned with high-level offenders. The division stated it’s reviewing commonplace procedures concerning the classification of offenders and housing practices.
Dzurenda stated committees, which might be comprised of former offenders, researchers, advocates, and IT specialists, are being shaped to handle numerous points, and he instructed wardens to handle violence and drug abuse contained in the prisons.
To achieve investigative reporter Vanessa Murphy, electronic mail [email protected]
