RICHMOND, Va. — An investigation is underway to determine why an inmate died at the Richmond City Justice Center.
Rashad Antonio Dandridge, 26, of Richmond, was found dead early Tuesday morning, according to the Richmond Sheriff’s Office.
“The agency is awaiting the results of the preliminary autopsy report from the Office of the Medical Examiner in order to determine the exact cause and manner of death,” a Richmond City Sheriff’s Office spokesperson said.
Dandridge, who was booked March 1 on a Felony Probation Violation, was serving a six-month jail sentence.
Previous jail deaths
In January inmate Gregory Hill died after he was found unresponsive in his jail cell. The medical staff believed Hill suffered a heart attack. Hill had been in jail less than a week before his death.
In 2015, three inmates died at the city jail over a 72-hour period.
Zachary Tuggle’s July 2015 death inside the Richmond jail was caused by a seizure disorder, the Office of the Medical Examiner concluded. The seizure disorder was brought on by a gunshot wound to the head Tuggle, 29, suffered 11 years ago. As a result, his death has been ruled a homicide.
Tuggle was the first of three inmates who died in the Richmond jail in one week.
Inmate Shawn Samuel died of a heroin overdose, the Medical Examiner’s Office and Richmond Sheriff’s Office reported.
Inmate Javon Antoine Morris died of natural causes.
