( CNN ) -- The grandson of civil rights activist Malcolm X , Malcolm Shabazz , died in a Mexico City hospital after suffering an apparent beating , police told CNN . Prosecutors are investigating the death as a homicide , police spokesman Octavio Campos said . Police were called to the scene of an injured man at 3:30 a.m. Thursday one block south of Plaza Garibaldi , a rough but famous patch of Mexico City known for its mariachis . Shabazz appeared to have been beaten , but had no wounds from other weapons , Campos said . The 29-year-old was transported to Mexico City 's Balbuena General Hospital , where he died later Thursday morning because of his injuries , he said . The prosecutor 's office said in a statement that Shabazz had been at `` a place of recreation '' and had been drinking beers that night . `` To all who knew him , he offered kindness , encouragement and hope for a better tomorrow , '' the Shabazz family said in a statement Friday . `` Although his bright light and boundless potential are gone from this life , we are grateful that he now rests in peace in the arms of his grandparents and the safety of God . '' A U.S. State Department spokeswoman was aware that a U.S. citizen had died in Mexico , but declined to comment further . `` I was saddened , stunned , shocked , to read about the murder of young Malcolm , '' former Georgia congresswoman Cynthia McKinney said . The former lawmaker had taken Shabazz under her wing and he had traveled with her to Libya on a trip . `` Many of my closest associates have personal memories of their time with him and of his efforts to reach out to them for help , '' McKinney said . `` He was writing a book . '' CNN 's Marlena Baldacci , Nick Valencia and Sunny Hostin contributed to this report .
Malcolm Shabazz died at a hospital from injuries from an apparent beating , police say . He was the grandson of Malcolm X. Shabazz had been at `` a place of recreation '' in Mexico City , prosecutors said . He was found injured early Thursday .