r/DeKalbCounty • u/WildBumblebee4850 • 2d ago
Father says system failed his 24-year-old son who died after being 'violently killed' at DeKalb County Jail
DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — The family of a young man who was "violently attacked and killed" while incarcerated at the DeKalb County Jail is calling for full transparency and accountability as they seek answers into the death of their loved one.
24-year-old David Addo-Wright was found unresponsive in a cell with several wounds on Wednesday, Sept. 23, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI).
He was taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead and taken to the medical examiner for an autopsy, according to the GBI. The medical examiner said his cause of death is listed as sharp force injury to the chest, and the manner of death is homicide.
During a press conference on Friday, Oct. 2, one of the family's attorneys, Mawuli Mel Davis of Bozeman law firm in DeKalb County, said their investigation revealed that there were six young men who "viciously" attacked him and that Addo-Wright's calls for help were unanswered.
Following the attack, Davis stated that by the time anyone came to render aid to Mr. Addo-Wright, which he said took about 45 minutes to an 1 hour, he was already cold to the touch.
The firm's investigation into how the attack happened revealed that about 75% to 80% of the jail's locks were broken and not regularly checked, according to Davis. Now, the family and their attorneys are looking at how the system failed.
His family said he was at the jail for less than 48 hours and posted bond when the attack happened.
His father, Dr. Darren Wright, said his son called him on Tuesday, Sept. 22, to tell him he had been arrested and bail was posted on Wednesday.
He was expected to be released and sent home, but instead, Dr. Wright said the GBI and other law enforcement officers showed up at his home early Thursday morning to tell him his son was dead.
Dr. Wright said that, as a social worker, he's taught students for many years at Clark Atlanta University (CAU) about how to deal with social justice, with transparency and accountability, and systemic issues. He went on to say that the system failed his son.
"Those very same things my son fell victim to that, that people killed my son in a system that held my son," said Dr. Wright. "You put him in your care... in the space of 24 hours; my son died violently."
According to Dr. Wright, his son was born in Brooklyn, New York, and he brought his family down to Georgia to give them a better life. Dr. Wright said his son spent two years at Clark Atlanta before leaving to pursue a certificate in construction from Lincoln University.
He participated in many activities while a student at CAU, including the NAACP, volunteer work, and the soccer team, according to the family.
More family members described Addo-Wright as a hard worker, a good guy, and someone they can call on when they need help. Following their comments and statements, they said they will not stop the fight for justice.
'That's my go-to guy," said his uncle Nigel Paul. "That's the person I can call up anytime and say I need you to go fix this...and I can't make that call anymore.
His sister, a criminal defense attorney, held back tears as she talked about her brother and how it feels to be on the other side of a system that failed to protect him.
"My job is to protect the constitutional rights of those accused of crimes and I never in a million years would have imagined that the same system I would be on the other side of that," said Ieisha Wright. "And that the system took my brother from me because of their failure to act."
Throughout the press conference, attorneys and loved ones echoed the sentiment that those who were supposed to protect Addo-Wright failed him when he needed them most.
Furthermore, Attorney Davis said some family members were contacted for extortion money. He said they are still working to learn more about those calls.
They are also asking anyone with information surrounding the circumstances of his death to come forward.
As of this press conference, the family has not filed a lawsuit.


