Family demands answers after man killed in DeKalb County jail

Name: Father demands answers after deadly DeKalb jail attack
Uploaded: 2026-10-02T07:51:11-04:00
Duration: 3 min 16 s
Description: The family of a 24-year-old man killed in a violent DeKalb County jail attack is demanding answers. David Addo-Wright's family says he had been in custody for less than 48-hours and had already posted bond when he was attacked and killed.

DeKalb County inmate killed after bond paid

The family of 24-year-old David Addo-Wright is demanding an official investigation into DeKalb County Jail operations after attorneys alleged six inmates violently killed him one day after his arrest.

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. - The family of a 24-year-old man killed while being held in the DeKalb County jail is demanding an investigation into how he died while in custody.

ORIGINAL STORY: GBI investigates inmate death inside DeKalb County Jail

What they're saying:

David Addo-Wright’s parents and their attorney spoke publicly about his death during a news conference Friday, questioning how Addo-Wright could have been violently attacked while under the jail’s supervision.

The family says Addo-Wright had been in custody for less than 48 hours and had already posted bond when he was attacked and killed.

"You took him off the street. You put him in your care, and in the space of 24 hours, my son died violently," Addo-Wright’s father said.

Father remembers his son

Addo-Wright’s father said he wanted the public to know his son as more than an inmate or the charges that led to his arrest.

He said Addo-Wright was born in Brooklyn, New York, and later moved with his family to Newton County. Addo-Wright played soccer and attended Clark Atlanta University for two years before continuing his education at Lincoln Tech, his father said.

According to his family, Addo-Wright earned a certificate in construction and mechanical engineering and had sworn into the U.S. Marine Corps. He was waiting for a date to leave for training.

"He did not need to die violently," his father said. "He was not convicted of any crime."

Father demands answers after deadly DeKalb jail attack

The family of a 24-year-old man killed in a violent DeKalb County jail attack is demanding answers. David Addo-Wright's family says he had been in custody for less than 48-hours and had already posted bond when he was attacked and killed.

Family wants answers

What they want:

Addo-Wright’s family and their attorney are calling for a full investigation into what happened inside the jail and whether his death could have been prevented.

His father said those responsible for maintaining a safe environment inside the jail failed his son.

The family said it also hopes an investigation can help prevent another family from experiencing a similar loss.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation was called in to investigate. No information has been released about the circumstances surrounding Addo-Wright's death at this time.