An inmate at the Shelby County Jail known as 201 Poplar is facing charges after reportedly stabbing a fellow inmate multiple times with a homemade weapon. The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office has identified 28-year-old Kokou Sanoumeg as the alleged assailant in the attack last Wednesday, according to Action News 5. Sanoumeg has been charged with aggravated assault, possession of contraband, and faces additional pending charges.
Details emerged that at around 8:45 a.m., one inmate in the jail's dormitory assaulted Christopher Ross, another resident in the facility, using a self-fashioned weapon. Investigators told FOX13 Memphis that Ross suffered stab wounds to his head, neck, back, torso, and arms. Jail staff intervened, provided medical aid and subsequently, Memphis Fire Department ambulance transported the victim to Regional One Hospital in non-critical condition.
Records shared with the press indicate that this is not the first time Sanoumeg has been in trouble with the law. In June 2024, he faced charges including possession of a firearm, theft of a firearm, drugs, and aggravated criminal trespassing. However, a year later those charges were dismissed due to a lack of prosecution. More recently, in April, Sanoumeg was arrested for being a convicted felon in possession of a handgun and other related offenses, and then again last month for possession of cocaine.
The attack left the victim, Mr. Ross, paralyzed after being stabbed 17 times. Reflecting on the incident, the victim shared his experience with The Daily Memphian, providing a personal account of how the alleged assault began. The nature of the weapon utilized in the assault and the circumstances surrounding its creation and use in jail have not been disclosed.
According to the latest updates, Sanoumeg remains incarcerated, and the victim is still hospitalized as a result of the incident. The forthcoming court proceedings will become part of Sanoumeg’s criminal record and are part of ongoing discussions regarding safety and security in correctional facilities.
