The Latest: Inmate escaped from work outside prison walls

SAN QUENTIN, Calif. – The Latest on the San Quentin walk-away and carjacking (all times local):

10:55 a.m.

California authorities say an escaped San Quentin State Prison inmate suspected in a carjacking walked away from a work assignment outside the prison walls.

Prison spokesman Sgt. Robert Gardea said Thursday officials are still searching for 21-year-old Shalom Mendoza. He was last seen at the prison before 6 p.m. Wednesday and reported missing after 9:30 p.m.

San Rafael police say Mendoza is believed to have carjacked a victim in a nearby Home Depot parking lot after 9 p.m. Authorities believe he fled in a Toyota RAV4 with California license plate number 6STZZ50.

Mendoza arrived at the prison in April to serve a five-year sentence for using a deadly weapon during a Los Angeles County carjacking and evading or attempting to evade police while driving recklessly.

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This story clarifies that Mendoza left from a work assignment, not a dormitory, based on new information from corrections officials.

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8:54 a.m.

Authorities in California are searching for an inmate who escaped from San Quentin State Prison overnight and pulled off a carjacking.

San Quentin spokesman Lt. Samuel Robinson says the 21-year-old inmate, Shalom Mendoza, was reported missing at 9:35 p.m. Wednesday during an institutional count.

He says Mendoza is believed to have carjacked a victim shortly after, fleeing in a Toyota RAV4 with California license plate number 6STZZ50.

Robinson says Mendoza was transferred in April to the prison from Los Angeles County to serve a five-year sentence for use of a deadly weapon during a carjacking and evading or attempting to evade a police officer while driving recklessly.