An inmate awaiting trial at the Shelby County Jail was found dead in his cell early Friday morning, officials said. The deceased, identified as 57-year-old Kevin Wright, was discovered "unresponsive" just after 7 a.m. and was pronounced dead after being transported to Methodist University Hospital, according to a statement from the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office.
Wright, who was housed alone, was in the closed premises of 201 Poplar jail during an ongoing trial for first-degree murder and aggravated kidnapping charges. He had allegedly broken into his ex-girlfriend’s home in July 2020, shot a man dead, and wounded the woman before abducting her. Efforts by corrections deputies to quickly implement life-saving measures were unsuccessful, as noted in a report by Action News 5.
Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy indicated that the cause of death appeared to be suicide. "Wright was found hanging in his cell," Mulroy said in a statement. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has been promptly brought in to lead an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding Wright's death. This decision comes standard protocol when in-custody deaths occur, as per the information provided by the Commercial Appeal.
The case that Wright was involved in stemmed from a dramatic incident where a 911 call was made by a woman whispering, "He shot me." Police arriving at the scene found a fatally injured man and later discovered the woman at Regional One Hospital with a gunshot wound. She accused Wright, her ex-boyfriend, of the violent ordeal. The death of Wright cuts short what was to possibly bring to climax a traumatic chapter for the victims and their families, reported by Action News 5.
As the investigation into Wright's death unfolds, further details are expected to be disclosed by authorities. Judge Carlyn Addison, handling Wright's case, confirmed his identity and has been associated with the ongoing court proceedings, as cited by FOX13 Memphis. This developing story raises questions about incarceration conditions and mental health provisions within the Shelby County Jail system. No further comments have been provided by the Shelby County Sheriff's Office at this time.
