Leslie Walker
Leslie Walker was killed in September 2025 during a large disturbance at the Hamilton County Jail and Detention Center in Tennessee, where he was being held. His mother's federal civil-rights lawsuit says jail officials failed to keep him apart from another person there who posed a known threat, and that he was attacked with a contraband weapon. The lawsuit also says excessive tear gas delayed the discovery of his injuries and his life-saving treatment. The Hamilton County Sheriff's Office said the District Attorney has directed the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation to investigate the death as a homicide.
Cause of death, as reported: Killed by another person in custody (disputed; neglect alleged). The sheriff's office says another inmate attacked him with a makeshift weapon, and his mother's federal civil-rights lawsuit says jail officials failed to keep him apart from a known threat and that excessive tear gas delayed discovery of his injuries and life-saving treatment.
Reported by: Hamilton County Sheriff's Office (the agency that held him); his mother's federal civil-rights lawsuit (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: His mother filed a federal civil-rights lawsuit over his death at the Hamilton County Jail, alleging officials failed to separate him from a known threat, and no settlement or award amount is reported.