Shacoby Kenny
Shacoby Kenny, 32, was a Springfield native; his family described him in an obituary as a natural jokester who loved reading and playing the drums. He died on December 8, 2025, at a hospital after becoming unresponsive while held at the Suffolk County House of Correction, commonly called South Bay, in Boston, following a struggle with correction officers. Witnesses told the Boston Globe that officers punched and kneed him and knelt on his neck, and the state medical examiner ruled his death a homicide, with cardiac arrest during physical restraint as the cause. The Suffolk Sheriff's Office has declined further comment while the matter is under investigation, and the attorney general's office is investigating; no criminal charges had been filed as of the latest report.
Cause of death, as reported: Killed by staff (disputed; neglect alleged). The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner ruled the death a homicide from hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy after cardiac arrest during physical restraint by correction officers; witnesses told the Boston Globe that officers punched, kneed and knelt on his neck, and the sheriff's office says he attacked staff first and has declined further comment.
Reported by: Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (medical examiner or coroner); Suffolk County Sheriff's Office (the agency that held him); witnesses; Boston Globe (reporters).
News reports (12)
- Investigation underway after inmate with Springfield ties dies
- Detainee dies after incident inside Suffolk County jail
- Probe ongoing after South Bay inmate dies following altercation with officers
- Investigation underway after inmate with Springfield ties has died
- Investigation underway after death of inmate at Suffolk County House of Correction
- South Bay jail inmate dies after allegedly attacking officers, getting restrained
- Protesters call for transparency following in-custody death of Shacoby Kenny
- ‘The brother was being beat on’: Inmates detail violence that preceded South Bay death
- Head of state public defenders office calls for independent probe of South Bay death
- Medical examiner rules 2025 South Bay in-custody death a homicide
- Suffolk County jail inmate’s death ruled homicide; investigation continues
- City Council calls on Suffolk sheriff to change policies for officers involved in fatal incidents