A grisly scene unfolded within the walls of Fulton County Jail where an inmate was fatally stabbed on Wednesday evening, law enforcement officials have confirmed. According to the Atlanta News First report, 36-year-old Edward Cherry is accused of the stabbing that killed Leonard Fortner, 37, following an altercation at approximately 6:24 p.m.
Fortner, who was in custody for criminal damage to property since January, was rushed to Grady Memorial Hospital but was pronounced dead by around 7:40 p.m. Edward Cherry, the alleged assailant, has been behind bars since April 2020, facing charges including aggravated assault and kidnapping. According to a sheriff's office statement, neither men had the option of posting bond.
An ongoing investigation by the Atlanta Police Department has been launched to determine the circumstances that led to the deadly incident. As reported by FOX 5 Atlanta, the Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office is set to conduct an autopsy on the deceased inmate.
Leonard Fortner's demise marks the second inmate death at Fulton County Jail this year, echoing a troubling pattern that raised concerns from authorities and lawmakers alike. In January, inmate Michael Anthony Holland was found unresponsive in his cell and later died in the hospital. The string of deaths previously prompted the Department of Justice to scrutinize the jail's conditions after a total of 25 inmate deaths were reported in the prior two years. Following Holland's death, Georgia lawmakers urged the Department of Justice to prioritize their investigation into these disturbing occurrences.
