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3 inmates dead following altercation at Arizona prison

By
Published  April 4, 2025 2:06pm MST
Crime and Public Safety
FOX 10 Phoenix

Three inmates killed in Arizona prison

The Arizona Department of Corrections says Ricky Wassenaar, who is serving 16 life sentences for his role in a 2004 prison standoff, is responsible for killing three inmates in a Tucson prison.

The Brief

    • Three inmates died during an altercation on Friday at a prison in Tucson.
    • The inmates were not identified.
    • The suspect, Ricky Wassenaar made headlines in 2004.

TUCSON, Ariz. - An altercation at a Tucson prison on April 4 left three inmates dead, the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation & Reentry (ADCRR) confirmed.

What we know:

The incident happened on Friday morning at the Arizona State Prison Complex, near Wilmot and Old Vail Road.

Officials identified the prisoners Saul Alvarez, Thorne Harnage and Donald Lashley died in the incident.

The suspect was identified as Ricky Wassenaar who is serving 16 life sentences.

Wassenaar made waves in 2004 when he took two guards hostage for 15 days at Lewis Prison Complex in Buckeye.

Prison officials are investigating.

Dig deeper:

As a result of the incident, visitation was canceled for Friday.

"ADCRR's Office of the Inspector General has begun an initial criminal investigation related to the inmate's deaths," officials said. "All inmate deaths are investigated in consultation with the county medical examiner's office. The ADCRR takes situations involving violence seriously and will pursue prosecution against any suspects believed to be involved in the case."

Map of where the prison is located

The Source

  • Information for this story was provided by the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation & Reentry in a news release.

Crime and Public SafetyTucsonNews