TUCSON, Ariz. (KOLD/Gray News) – Ricky Wassenaar, a prisoner serving 16 life sentences, is accused of killing three inmates in an altercation at the Arizona State Prison Cimmaron Unit in Tucson on Friday.
The victims were identified as Saul Alvarez, Thorne Harnage, and Donald Lashley. Alvarez was serving time for a Maricopa County murder, Harnage for sexual conduct with a minor in Pima County, and Lashley for child molestation in Pima County.
Details about the incident are still limited, but prison officials believe Wassenaar is the sole suspect and acted with “intent to harm” the three victims.
Wassenaar, who has been incarcerated since a 2004 prison standoff, is already serving 16 life sentences for his role in the hostage situation at the Arizona State Prison Lewis Complex in Buckeye. During the standoff, Wassenaar and his accomplice, Steven Coy, held two guards hostage for 15 days, marking one of the longest prison hostage situations in U.S. history. Wassenaar had used a kitchen guard’s uniform to gain access to a prison watchtower, overpowering an officer with a handmade weapon.
Following the deadly altercation, Wassenaar was transferred to a prison in Florence, and a criminal investigation into the incident is ongoing.
As a result of the fight, all visitations at the prison were canceled for the rest of the day.
