Arizona prison inmate dies of injuries sustained during gang-related fight

PHOENIX — One of the inmates injured in last week’s gang-related fight at an Arizona prison died over the weekend, authorities said.

Christopher Wagner, 45, died six days after sustaining critical injuries in the April 26 fight at the Arizona State Prison Complex-Eyman in Florence, according to the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry.

Wagner was hospitalized at the Chandler Regional Medical Center when he was pronounced dead Saturday. ADCRR is investigating his death as a homicide.

Wagner had been in ADCRR custody since 2021. He was serving time on drug and vehicle theft charges out of Pinal County.

What authorities said about fight among inmates at Arizona prison

Last week’s fight involved multiple inmates at the Eyman prison’s Rynning Unit. No staff members were injured.

Two individuals injured in the fight remained hospitalized as of Saturday, with both listed in stable condition.

The fight appears to have stemmed from a gang-related dispute, authorities said, though the investigation is ongoing.

“ADCRR is confident that this targeted, gang-related incident does not represent a threat to the wider inmate population or ADCRR staff, nor is it reflective of the broader safety conditions inside Arizona’s prisons,” ADCRR said in a statement.

Rynning Unit inmates were placed under lockdown after the fight and visitation was canceled until further notice.

KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Kevin Stone contributed to this report.

This is an updated version of a story originally published on April 27, 2026.

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