Dominique McCoy
Dominique McCoy, 38, died on December 29, 2021, after another man beat him to death in a shared cell at the San Diego Central Jail, where he was being held. His family's federal lawsuit says he was due to be released hours later and that the county, its sheriff's department and its probation department failed to stop the attack, including by placing him in a cell with the man who attacked him. The sheriff's office has acknowledged that the cellmate beat him, and the other man later pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. The family's civil case against the county went forward in part, with the court allowing claims over the county's policy of housing people of different security levels together, and the county has not commented.
Cause of death, as reported: Killed by another person in custody (neglect alleged). His family's federal lawsuit says the county and its sheriff and probation departments failed to stop an attack by another inmate, who should not have been housed with him, hours before his scheduled release.
Reported by: family, in a federal lawsuit (family or their lawyers); sheriff.
Lawsuit: His family sued San Diego County in federal court over his death in the San Diego Central Jail, and the case went forward in part, but no settlement or award amount has been reported.
News reports (3)
- Man Arrested on Faulty Warrant Beaten to Death in San Diego Jail Hours Before Release: Lawsuit
- After record $15 million settlement, San Diego County still confronts a slew of other jail-death lawsuits - San Diego Union-Tribune
- Judge allows key claims against San Diego County in inmate beating death suit