Jaydrekus Hart
Jaydrekus Hart, 34, was held at Smith State Prison in Glennville, Georgia. On a Sunday morning in June 2024, the Georgia Department of Corrections said he shot a food service worker in the prison kitchen and then shot himself, and that he left a suicide note. He was taken to a local hospital, where he later died of his injuries. It is not clear how he obtained the gun. A lawsuit filed by the food service worker's mother alleges staff had been warned a gun was inside the facility and did not act, and the department has declined to comment on the pending litigation.
Cause of death, as reported: Died by suicide (neglect alleged). The Georgia Department of Corrections says he shot a kitchen worker and then killed himself, leaving a suicide note; Grace's mother's lawsuit says staff had been warned of a gun inside the facility and did not act.
Reported by: Georgia Department of Corrections (the agency that held him); Grace's mother's lawsuit (family or their lawyers); Reporting (reporters).
Lawsuit: Grace's mother filed a lawsuit alleging staff were warned of a gun inside the facility and did not act, and no settlement or award amount is reported.
News reports (4)
- Statesboro woman killed after Smith State Prison incident
- Prison worker may have had relationship with inmate
- Georgia inmate shoots and kills 24-year-old female food service worker inside the prison’s kitchen
- Prison staff was warned of gun used to kill kitchen worker, lawsuit alleges - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution