Leonard Fortner
His mother, Donna Fortner, said Leonard meant so much to the family. Leonard Fortner, 37, was held at the Fulton County Jail on Rice Street in Atlanta, where in April 2024 the Fulton County Sheriff's Office said another person held there stabbed him in a housing zone day room. He was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. In 2025 his parents sued Fulton County, the sheriff and the county commission, and the lawsuit says jail staff kept him in general population despite medical reasons for isolation and failed to protect him. The sheriff's office declined to comment on the pending suit.
Cause of death, as reported: Killed by another person in custody (disputed; neglect alleged). The sheriff's office says another detainee stabbed him multiple times, and his family's wrongful-death lawsuit alleges jail staff placed him in general population despite known medical reasons for isolation, failing to keep him safe.
Reported by: Fulton County Sheriff's Office (the agency that held him); Fortner family lawsuit (family or their lawyers); family attorney CK Hoffler (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: His family sued Fulton County, the sheriff, and the county commission over his death, alleging staff kept him in general population despite medical reasons for isolation; the reporting gives no settlement or verdict amount.
Sources (12)
- Fulton County Jail inmate stabbing death
- Inmate dies after being stabbed at Fulton County Jail, sheriff’s office says
- Fulton Sheriff says jail ‘is in crisis,’ urges commission to give him help after inmate stabbing - WSB-TV
- ‘It’s time for them to do something’: Inmate families speak out after recent Fulton County Jail death
- Fulton inmate’s fatal stabbing spurs concern among county officials, mayor - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
- Another Fulton County inmate dies in custody - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
- Suicide suspected in latest Fulton County Jail death, sheriff’s office says
- Family of murdered inmate seeking justice
- Fortner family demands accountability after son's murder inside Fulton County Jail
- Family of Fulton County Jail inmate stabbed to death files lawsuit
- Family of man stabbed to death in Fulton jail sues sheriff, county - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
- Family of inmate stabbed to death inside Fulton County jail files wrongful death lawsuit - WSB-TV