A fatal stabbing incident occurred at Fulton County Jail, resulting in the death of one detainee and injuries to at least two others, according to a statement from a sheriff’s spokesperson. The incident, which took place on Thursday, was swiftly brought under control, and an investigation is currently underway. The identities of the deceased and injured parties have not been disclosed.

This incident marks the fifth death of a Fulton County Jail inmate since July’s end. On July 31, Montay Stinson, a 40-year-old inmate, was discovered unresponsive in his cell. Stinson, who showed no visible signs of injury, was detained on a second-degree burglary charge with a $3,000 bond.

In a separate incident on August 10, Christopher Smith, a 34-year-old inmate, was found unresponsive by a detention officer. Despite being resuscitated and transported to a hospital, Smith passed away the following morning. He was detained on felony and misdemeanor charges without bond.

On August 17, Alexander Hawkins, a 66-year-old inmate, was discovered unresponsive in a medical unit cell and subsequently died. Hawkins, arrested just over two weeks prior, was detained on a shoplifting charge with a $5,000 bond.

Most recently, on Saturday, Samuel Lawrence, a 34-year-old inmate, was found unresponsive in his cell during dinner rounds. Lawrence was rushed to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. He had been detained since December 26 on a second-degree arson charge with a $30,000 bond.

In each instance, the sheriff’s office stated that the county medical examiner’s office would conduct an autopsy to determine the cause and manner of death. As of now, nine in-custody deaths have occurred in 2023, with final autopsy reports still pending for some, according to the sheriff’s spokesperson.

During a separate news conference on Thursday, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis addressed the conditions of the jail, stating that a new facility should have been built 15 years ago. Willis emphasized the need for a larger, more humane facility, particularly given the growth of Atlanta and Fulton County.

Last month, the Justice Department initiated a civil rights investigation into the jail, citing dilapidated and unsanitary conditions, as well as violence against detainees. The investigation will also explore potential discrimination against detainees with psychiatric disabilities.

The investigation was partly triggered by the death of LaShawn Thompson, who died in the jail’s mental health unit last year under deplorable conditions. The unit was reportedly infested with insects, and most inmates were malnourished and denied basic care.