Rashell Laverne Clarke Jr., 39

Feb. 8, 2016

Rashell Laverne Clarke Jr., a 39-year-old black man, died Saturday, Feb. 6, after a fight in the California State Prison, 44750 60th St. West in Lancaster, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s records.

Clarke, an inmate at the prison, got into a disagreement with his cellmate that morning and the two began to fight, said Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Lt. Joe Mendoza. Guards found him unresponsive in his cell at 10:48 a.m., according to a news release from the Department of Corrections.

During the fight, Clarke received some kind of trauma to his head, Mendoza said. He was pronounced dead at the scene at 11:26 a.m., according to coroner’s records. Autopsy results are not yet complete.

Clarke's cellmate, Leron Leon Morris, a 33-year-old black man, was treated for injuries and returned to the custody of the state prison, Mendoza said. The case is being investigated as a homicide, Mendoza said, and Morris is being questioned as a suspect.

Investigators don’t know what prompted the fight, Mendoza said.

Clarke went to prison on Jan. 12, 2010, to serve a 22-year, 8-month sentence for a Shasta County conviction for abusing/endangering the health of a child, according to the Department of Corrections news release. Morris entered prison on Sept. 13, 2005, from Contra Costa County to serve a sentence of life without the possibility of parole for first-degree murder.

Anyone with information on the case is asked to call the Sheriff’s Department Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500. Those wishing to remain anonymous should call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.

Contact the Homicide Report. Follow @latimeshomicide on Twitter.

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Five reader comments

My name is Trina and I am LeRon's mother ( the bunkie accused of his death).
I am sure that your family is suffering a great loss. However my family has not escaped pain and loss as well.
I have no clue as to what Rashell did to land him in prison...but i know what my Son did and it definitely was not what he was chargrd with.
Further, I know my Son well enough, and know enough about the problems they were having as roommates to comfortably say that whatever lead to this horrible ending started with Rashell...for my Son had spoken to me on several occasions regarding their indifferences.
It is my further opinion that CDC should be held responsible for what has happened ...for they knew of the problems way before it got to this but they chose to ignore it and act as if they were surprised at the outcome of what happened. When i know for a fact they werent....its called prison politics and it is done deliberately. ...BELIEVE ME....
So my prayers are with Rashells family...and I cannot express how horribly sad this has left me, however if you should decide to hold anyone responsible for what has happened to your loved one
....and understand what i am saying then i am in your corner 100% and will assist in anyway i can in making CDC own up to what they have caused to happen and hopefully have to pay in one way or another....I say lets work together in stopping anymore of these unnecessary endings.
Sincerely and Full of Prayers
LeRons Mother

— Trina Gill Dec. 23, 2016 at 3:21 a.m.

Rashell Lavern Clarke was my older brother he had a kind heart he taught me everything I know he was like my Dad I miss him so much I feel like a piece of me is gone I wish none of this would have never happened you can't even be safe in prison but my brother was not a scary person he stayed on at that 4 yards all the way to his death when a lot of people would have just got in protective custody he was never a child abuser he was in Redding California and out there it's zero tolerance to spank your kid if that's the case I should be in prison right now but I want the world to know that I love him very much until we meet again big bro I'ma hold it down for you
Sincerely yours
Your little brother
Marmizzo

— Marlon Aug. 14, 2016 at 9:09 p.m.

The Homicide Report

Rashell Laverne Clarke Jr., 39

Share a memory or thought about Rashell Laverne Clarke Jr.

Five reader comments