GBI reviewing case of former Fulton jail detainee's amputation
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The Fulton County Jail in Atlanta. Photo: Alyssa Pointer/Bloomberg via Getty Images
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is reviewing the medical care a former Fulton County Jail detainee received that his attorneys said resulted in him losing his feet and his fingers.
Why it matters: Rashaad Muhammad's case is the latest incident involving a serious injury or death reported at the Fulton County Jail that has sparked concerns over conditions at the facility.
- The 2022 death of detainee Lashawn Thompson, whose body was found covered in insect bites in his cell, prompted the Department of Justice to conduct a civil rights investigation.
- The county in 2025 entered into a consent decree with the federal government to address the problems outlined in the report.
The latest: Sara Lue, the GBI's director of public and governmental affairs, told Axios that Fulton County Sheriff Patrick Labat last week asked the agency to review Muhammad's case.
Catch up quick: Muhammad told Fulton County commissioners at their May 6 meeting that after he was arrested in August 2025, he was not given medication he needed to treat an ailment he had at the time.
- His condition deteriorated and he was transported to Grady Memorial Hospital.
- Attorney Ben Crump, who is representing Muhammad, said his client was induced into a coma and doctors ended up removing his legs and fingers.
What they're saying: "This is a pattern of injustice, a pattern of people crying out for help and them being ignored time after time," said attorney Brandon Price-Crum, who is also on Muhammad's legal team.
- Another speaker at the meeting called on Gov. Brian Kemp to suspend Labat for "dereliction of duty, long term malfeasance and misconduct."
The other side: Labat said in a statement late Friday the agency is reviewing staffing, emergency response, medical procedures and protocols related to detainee care.
- "While the investigation is ongoing, I will not prejudge the outcome or attempt to debate this case publicly," he said. "But I will say this clearly: If failures occurred within our system, they will be addressed."
Friction point: County commissioners got into a heated debate over who should be held responsible for the medical care Muhammad received.
- Commissioners Bob Ellis and Khadijah Abdur-Rahman both urged voters to ask Kemp to consider suspending Labat.
- "I cannot and will not sit in silence while the performance of the sheriff's office continues to deteriorate to a level that can only be described as unconstitutional and dangerous," Abdur-Rahman said.
- Commissioner Marvin Arrington Jr., who is challenging incumbent Chairman Robb Pitts in the May 19 Democratic primary, said he did not hold Labat responsible.
- That led Commissioner Bridget Thorne to point out that Labat endorsed Arrington for county chair.
- Ellis said Arrington's comments were an attempt to create a narrative that could be used to support potential litigation filed against the county.
- "Let the facts come out," he said. "Not presuppose them and provide this little lecture here that you put forth in trying to shirk the responsibility related to the sheriff."
What's next: Lue said the preliminary review will determine if "criminal activity exists to initiate a criminal investigation," and the probe remains active.