MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Shelby County Sheriff Floyd Bonner announced another death inside of the Shelby County Jail Friday morning.
Bonner said the in custody death took place in the Shelby County Jail's intake at roughly 3 a.m.
"A detainee that was located at the intake area was found unconscious," Bonner said during a Friday press conference. "Aid was rendered, fire department was called and unfortunately, the detainee expired."
Bonner said that the case has been turned over to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and that Shelby County District Attorney General Steve Mulroy has been notified.
The person who died was in jail for burglary charges, Bonner said, but he declined to release their name.
TBI officials said that the person who died was identified as Lawrence Sumlin.
"We think ... that it was a medical emergency," Bonner said. "We're going to have to wait for the medical examiner gives us the information as to what occurred."
This is at least the seventh in-custody death to have occurred during 2024 for the Shelby County Sheriff's Office, according to data obtained and maintained by ABC24.
Bonner said that in all appearances it could be medical related.
"People go to the hospital and die every day," Bonner said. "We live in a very unhealthy community with diabetes and all kinds of other sicknesses, so just because you come to the jail doesn't mean you're going to all of a sudden get healthy."
There have now been at least 69 in-custody deaths since 2016 for the Shelby County Sheriff's Office.
