lights and siren

The death of a prisoner assigned to the Cimarron Unit at Arizona State Prison Complex-Tucson is being investigated as a suspected homicide, authorities said.

Daniel J. Acosta, 26, was found Monday evening unresponsive in his housing unit, according to an Arizona Department of Corrections news release Tuesday.

The prison is at 10000 S. Wilmot Road.

Officers and medical personnel attempted life-saving measures on Acosta, but paramedics pronounced him dead at 6:19 p.m., said authorities. The death is being investigated in consultation with the Pima County Medical Examiner's Office.

State Department of Corrections investigators "have reasonable cause to suspect foul play may have been involved," states the release.

Acosta was in prison since 2013 following his sentencing out of Maricopa County for kidnapping. He was sentenced to 19 years, authorities said.


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Contact reporter Carmen Duarte at cduarte@tucson.com or 573-4104. On Twitter: @cduartestar