Prisoner Dies After Altercation With Cellmate

AMARILLO, Texas (AP) — A Texas prison system inmate has died following an apparent fight with his cellmate.

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice on Tuesday said the death of 31-year-old Alton Rodgers has been ruled a homicide and the investigation continues.

Rodgers was convicted of capital murder in a 2005 Dallas County case and was serving life in prison at the Clements Unit in Amarillo.

A TDCJ statement says security personnel found Rodgers unresponsive on his bunk Jan. 18. His cellmate, Joe Greggs, was restrained and removed. Rodgers died the following day at an Amarillo hospital.

Prison officials say it appears Rodgers and Greggs were involved in an altercation. Details weren't released. Greggs was serving 12 years for assault-family violence in Trinity County.

Details weren't immediately available on the Dallas County case.