An inmate at the Shelby County Jail, frequently called 201 Poplar, died after a stabbing on the morning of Oct. 6, Shelby County Sheriff's Office Public Information Officer Jerrita Patterson said during a press conference.
The death is the second since Sheriff Anthony Buckner took office as sheriff, according to SCSO. Buckner was previously
chief deputy sheriff and has been a large part of the push for a new jail.In September, 43-year-old Beverly Turnage was found unresponsive in her cell at Jail East, the women's jail.
According to Patterson, corrections deputies within the jail responded to a "disturbance" around 9:19 a.m. on Oct. 6. When they arrived, they found 23-year-old Erick Jones injured in a pod on the third floor of the jail.
"Corrections
deputies as well as staff provided the best medical care they could, that is until Memphis Fire could make their way there," Patterson said. "There was an inmate who was rushed away to Regional One. This inmate, unfortunately, did not survive."
Patterson said Jones was pronounced dead at Regional One Health around 9:26 a.m. Tuesday.
Details about the stabbing were slim during the press conference. SCSO is leading the investigation into Jones' death.
Jones was allegedly stabbed by his cellmate, who Patterson identified as 19-year-old Johnathan Griffin, who was in jail on two counts of first-degree murder. The Commercial Appeal verified the murder charges through the Shelby County criminal justice portal, along with other theft and domestic violence charges tied to Griffin.
More active cases as juvenile
Two of Griffin's active cases are listed as "criminal court bindover" cases, meaning they were originally filed in Shelby County Juvenile Court. The offense date on the murder charges is listed as December 2024, and Griffin would have been 17 years old at the time.
Charges have not been formally filed against Griffin, Patterson said, but a warrant for his arrest has been signed by a judicial officer.
"We absolutely want to extend our heartfelt and deepest condolences, of course, to the family of Mr. Jones," Patterson said. "Regardless of the circumstances when it comes to how someone died, this is a sad day. It really is a sad day not only for the sheriff's office, but also for this community."
What led to the stabbing was not publicly disclosed, with SCSO still investigating the incident. Griffin has been placed in special housing, away from other inmates, Patterson said.
Lucas Finton covers crime, policing, jails, the courts and criminal justice policy for The Commercial Appeal. He can be reached by phone or email: (901) 208-3922 and Lucas.Finton@commercialappeal.com, and followed on X @LucasFinton.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Man fatally stabbed at 201 Poplar, Shelby County Sheriff's Office says
