Fulton County sheriff, commissioner respond to deadly stabbing of inmate at jail
ATLANTA - A violent altercation within the confines of the Fulton County Jail on Wednesday left one inmate dead. The deadly stabbing has prompted an investigation by the Atlanta Police Department.
It happened at 6:24 p.m. in the day room of the jail's housing zone.
Who is Edward Cherry?
Edward Cherry, 36, is accused of stabbing a fellow inmate multiple times, according to the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office. The inmate, who was identified on Friday morning as 37-year-old Leonard Fortner, was rushed to Grady Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead by 7:39 p.m.
Edward Cherry
Cherry has been incarcerated since April 5, 2020, facing serious accusations including aggravated assault and kidnapping, also without the option of bond.
Sheriff Patrick "Pat" Labat says he spoke with Fortner's mother and father and offered his condolences and prayers for all his loved ones.
Labat acknowledged that this is a tragedy that should not happen, but also explained that jail itself is in crisis mode and a new one is desperately needed. The topic of a new jail has been a point of controversy among various local leaders.
"I was hurt when the board recently voted to end double overtime, I was hurt when the board voted to end recipient signing bonuses, I was hurt when the board voted to turn down state-funded money," said Labat.
Fulton County Commission Chairman Robb Pitts says he cannot believe that the inmate has been residing in the jail for that long and questions what happened to the legal process.
"It begs the question, does a brand-new jail, quite frankly, solve a problem like that?" stated Pitts. "Why in the world would someone still be in our jail for four years? Not one, not two, not three, but four years and then have the opportunity to commit the crime that apparently was committed." He questioned. "I’m dumbfounded."
A source told FOX 5 that prior to the Atlanta Police Department's arrival to investigate, the crime scene was cleaned up. When FOX 5 asked Labat about that, he said that there was some clean-up that happened at the crime scene during the chaos of the fatal stabbing.
Fulton County Commissioner Marvin Arlington Jr was also at this press conference, and he echoed the same specific complaints as Labat on recent funding decisions.
Who is Leonard Fortner?
It is believed that it is the same Leonard Fortner who was arrested after a fire on New Year's Day at an apartment complex on Joseph E. Boone Boulevard.
Leonard Fortner
The deceased had been in custody since January, arrested on allegations of criminal damage to property and was held without bond.
The Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office will conduct an autopsy. The Atlanta Police Department is now investigating.
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This is the second Fulton County Jail inmate to die this year. Michael Anthony Holland, 36, was found unresponsive inside a jail cell on Jan. 10. He died at Grady Memorial Hospital.
The Department of Justice announced in 2023 that they were looking into the conditions and issues at the jail after at least 10 inmates died that year and 15 inmates died the previous year. After the death of Holland, three Georgia lawmakers sent a letter to the Department of Justice asking them to make their investigation a priority.
Atlanta mayor on Fulton County Jail deaths
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens statement on the Fulton County Jail deaths:
"I am extremely concerned about the crisis at the Fulton County Jail. All human life must become a priority to Fulton County. Historically, the Fulton County Commission has underfunded quality of life services for inmates, physical and mental health services for County residents and people are paying the price—at times, with their lives. Fulton County is responsible for keeping their corrections facilities safe and sanitary, providing services to those experiencing homelessness, ensuring fair and speedy trials in their Courts system, providing animal services and other health and human services. This is an election year and voters should take note and ask themselves: why am I not getting what I deserve from Fulton County and its leadership?"