DJ
DJ was 17, and his mother said he was intelligent, athletic and kind, and that he was her rock while she battled breast cancer. He died on November 21, 2020, while held at Mecklenburg County Jail North in Charlotte, North Carolina. Authorities said he died by suicide by hanging himself with a bedsheet. His family's wrongful death lawsuit against state and county employees, including the sheriff, alleges that staff should have checked on him more often and that he had access to items he could use to harm himself. A separate federal lawsuit by his mother alleges he was on suicide alert, that staff did not conduct timely checks, and that records were falsified to show he had been observed at the required intervals. The sheriff's office and state agency declined to comment on the pending litigation.
Cause of death, as reported: Died by suicide (disputed; neglect alleged). Authorities said he died by suicide by hanging from a bedsheet, while his family's wrongful death lawsuit alleges jail staff failed to check on him as often as required and let him access items he could use to harm himself.
Reported by: Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office and state agency (the agency that held him); his family's lawsuit (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: His family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against state and county employees, including the sheriff, alleging staff failed to check on him often enough and let him access items he could use to harm himself; no settlement or award amount has been reported.