An inmate at the Arizona State Prison Complex–Lewis in Buckeye died Saturday after an altercation with his cellmate, according to the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry (ADCRR).
Authorities identified the deceased as Joshua Walker, 41, who had been in state custody since 2021. Records show Walker was serving a sentence from Maricopa County for convictions including second-degree murder, weapons misconduct, and a marijuana-related offense.
The incident occurred at the Lewis complex, located off State Route 85 near Patterson Road, and is being investigated as a homicide by ADCRR’s Office of the Inspector General, with assistance from the county medical examiner.
Officials have not released additional details about the circumstances of the altercation or the identity of the other inmate involved. The case adds to a series of recent violent incidents reported within Arizona’s prison system, prompting renewed scrutiny of safety conditions across state correctional facilities.
