Death by Cop 2021-2025
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Lashawn Thompson
Gender : Male
Age : 35
Race : Black
Date : 04/30/2023
Location : Fulton County Jail, 901 Rice Street
City : Atlanta
County : Fulton
State : Georgia
Agency : Fulton County Sheriff’s Office
Officer(s) :Not disclosed
Cause of Death : Unknown
Event : Found dead in jail due to severe neglect
OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :
On September 13, 2022, LaShawn Thompson, brought in for behaviors due to schizophrenia, was found dead in his cell at Fulton County Jail after being held for approximately three months. His body was covered in bedbugs and insects. An independent autopsy determined that he died from complications due to severe neglect, including dehydration, malnutrition, and untreated mental health conditions. Photos of the scene revealed filth and unsanitary living conditions. Thompson had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and was placed in the psychiatric wing of the jail but received minimal to no treatment for his condition. He was incarcerated on a misdemeanor charge of simple battery, raising serious questions about the extended detention of a mentally ill individual without adequate care.
The jail was known to be overcrowded, unsanitary, and infested with pests, including bedbugs and lice. Designed to house 1,125 inmates, it held over 3,000 at the time of Thompson's death. The psychiatric wing, where he was housed, was particularly neglected, with reports of unsafe and hazardous conditions.
Thompson's family has publicly demanded accountability, citing Fulton County Jail’s failure to provide basic care. Following a Department of Justice investigation, Fulton County agreed to a $4 million settlement with Thompson's family in August 2023. The case has reignited discussions about mental health care and systemic neglect in jails. Multiple staff members, including the chief jailer and assistant chief jailers, resigned in the aftermath of the incident. Sheriff Pat Labat acknowledged the jail’s failings and pledged reforms.
A November 2024 Department of Justice report concluded that the jail violated constitutional rights by maintaining hazardous living conditions and failing to provide adequate medical and mental health care. The report highlighted ongoing overcrowding, unsanitary conditions, and systemic neglect. The Thompson family continues to advocate for criminal charges against those responsible and for systemic reforms to prevent future cases of neglect and mistreatment.
