Officials are investigating the death of an inmate at the Mississippi State Penitentiary after a fight with another prisoner.

43-year-old Ricky Sykes died of cardiac arrest following the altercation.

Officials say Sykes was in Parchman's Unit 30, where prisoners go for educational classes and drug and alcohol counseling when the fight broke out.

Sykes was serving a four-year term for felony DUI after his conviction in Lee County Circuit Court.



I pray for the family that is stricken with this tragedy

VERY sad, praying for the family during this tragedy

Such a tragedy! I think this is a nightmare we all have. Many prayers to the friends and family.

may he R I P, what a sad story.my prayers are with his family and friends god bless

Terribly sad story. May he R.I.P. prayers offered to his family and friends, at this terrible time.

So sad, this is something that no one should have to go through.

i read about this and is so aweful at any time but now the holidays are here. Trying to get to the bottom of a prison death is really difficult. There was a death at The Harrison County detention Facility i Gulfport that was the result of a beating by an officer that resulted in a lot of turmoil, firings, people in the local government being fired and even prison time for the one person directly responsible for the beating. I know a lot about that case and I am sure that though while this one may be the result of a prison fight, it will equally be difficult to get the 100% truth. coverups are rampant. Famly is in my prayers for sure.

1) I am praying for God to comfort them
2) That he would direct them to answers that they seek
3) That they would be able to positively impact the prison system in some large way that would lessen these type of occurances in the future.

My prayers are with his family