A 26-year-old man died Friday night while in custody at the King County Correctional Facility in downtown Seattle, according to county and fire officials. Authorities have launched a standard in-custody death review, and limited details have been released as the process begins.
Incident
Seattle Fire Department crews were dispatched to the King County jail in the 500 block of Fifth Avenue shortly before 11 p.m. on Friday. According to a department spokesperson, firefighters attempted lifesaving measures at the scene, but the man was pronounced dead at the facility.
Officials did not disclose what prompted the emergency response or whether the man had requested medical assistance prior to firefighters arriving.
Custody
The King County Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention confirmed the death and said the man had been in custody since June 12. Officials said the charges that led to his detention originated out of Renton, though no additional information about the case was released.
The man’s name has not been made public, which is typical while next of kin notifications are pending.
Review
An in-custody death review has been initiated, according to the department. These reviews are standard procedure following any death that occurs while someone is detained and typically involve internal oversight as well as coordination with outside agencies.
Officials did not provide a timeline for when findings from the review may be released.
Conditions
The Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention said there were no issues related to overcrowding, staffing shortages, or other major operational disruptions at the jail at the time of the incident.
No further details were provided about the man’s medical history, housing location within the facility, or whether he had been under medical observation.
Next Steps
Authorities said more information may be released once the review process progresses. Until then, both the fire department and detention officials declined to comment further on the circumstances surrounding the death.
FAQs
Where did the death occur?
At the King County Correctional Facility in Seattle.
When did the incident happen?
Friday night, shortly before 11 p.m.
How long had the man been in custody?
Since June 12, according to officials.
Is an investigation underway?
Yes, an in-custody death review has been initiated.
Have officials released a cause of death?
No, details have not yet been made public.
