California authorities are launching a manhunt after an inmate who has escaped from San Quentin State Prison Wednesday night north of San Francisco.
According to authorities, the inmate, Shalom Mendoza, walked away from the outgrounds support facility at San Quentin State Prison. At 9:35 p.m. Wednesday, Mendoza was reported missing during an institutional count. A subsequent search confirmed that the inmate was missing.
the 21-years-old is suspected to have carjacked a Toyota RAV4 from a woman in the parking lot of a Home Depot in nearby San Rafael, about 1 ½ mile from the prison.
The victim said the suspect motioned underneath his shirt as if he had a weapon or gun and then threatened to kill her, The suspect demanded the victim’s keys, got in the RAV4 and sped away. The woman was not hurt.
Mendoza was described by authorities as a Latino, 5 feet 5 inches tall and 177 pounds. He has short brown hair and brown eyes. He was serving a five-year sentence for using a deadly weapon during a carjacking and evading or attempting to evade a peace officer while driving recklessly, according to the department.
Mendoza is not the only inmate currently missing from a state prison: Officials are also searching for Justin Franks, 22, who “walked away” from Folsom State Prison on Saturday.
