Five DeKalb County Jail inmates face malice murder charges in the killing of David Addo-Wright, 24, the GBI announced Thursday, Oct. 8.

Addo-Wright, of Covington, had been in the jail less than 48 hours and had already posted bond when he was attacked and killed, his family said. The DeKalb County Jail is where residents across the county, including Dunwoody and Brookhaven, are held on county charges.

Amir Andrews, Dajuhn Bryant, Treonte Brintley, Messiah Hinson and Jayden King each face charges of malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, possession of prohibited items and tampering with evidence, Atlanta News First reported. All five were already jailed on unrelated charges when the attack occurred, according to 11Alive.

Addo-Wright was found unresponsive in his cell on Sept. 23 with several wounds. He was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The DeKalb County Medical Examiner listed the cause of death as a sharp force injury to the chest and ruled the manner of death a homicide.

Addo-Wright's family said he had been arrested after a fight with a cousin at a Walmart. It was his first arrest. He had no prior criminal history, according to WSB-TV. His father, Dr. Darrin Wright, a social work professor at Clark Atlanta University, said his son called him Tuesday, Sept. 22, to say he had been arrested. Bail was posted Sept. 23. GBI agents arrived at Dr. Wright's home the morning of Sept. 24 to tell him his son was dead.

Family alleges broken locks, gang activity

Attorney Mawuli Davis, who represents the Addo-Wright family, said the firm's own investigation found that six men entered Addo-Wright's cell and attacked him. Only five have been charged. Authorities have not explained the discrepancy.

Davis alleged that approximately 75% to 80% of the jail's locks were broken and not regularly checked. He also alleged that jail staff failed to conduct routine checks and that it took more than 45 minutes, possibly close to an hour, for anyone to respond. By the time Addo-Wright was found, he was "cold to the touch," Davis said.

Davis said at an Oct. 2 news conference that the violence could be connected to unchecked gang activity inside the jail. He described a "blood phone" controlled by a gang that other inmates must pay to use. The family also said they received calls from people believed to be gang members inside the jail demanding money.

"The protection should've been there, and it wasn't," Davis said at the Oct. 2 news conference. "And that's something that cannot be brushed over."

A separate attack at the same jail on Sept. 4 left a 33-year-old inmate with stab wounds to the head, back and eye after approximately 15 inmates attacked him over a dispute about a gang-controlled phone, Fox 5 Atlanta reported. Jail officials charged 11 inmates in that case.

Sheriff's office pledges cooperation

DeKalb County Sheriff Melody M. Maddox said in an official statement that her office appreciates the GBI's work on the case and will continue to cooperate fully with the investigation. The sheriff's office has not publicly responded to the specific allegations about broken locks, missed checks or gang activity.

The GBI said its investigation remains ongoing. The case will be turned over to the DeKalb County District Attorney's Office for review. No arraignment date for the five defendants has been announced. All five are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Anyone with information can call the GBI Atlanta Regional Investigative Office at 770-388-5019 or submit anonymous tips at 800-597-TIPS (8477).