The Norfolk community is seeking answers after a 32-year-old man was found unresponsive inside a cell at the Norfolk City Jail late Saturday night. Authorities said medical staff and jail personnel performed CPR before Norfolk Fire-Rescue took over; the man was later pronounced dead at a hospital.
What happened
According to the Norfolk Sheriff's Office, the man — identified by authorities as Dajonthony Lomax — was discovered in his cell at about 11:15 p.m. on Saturday, July 11. He had been arrested by the Norfolk Police Department and booked into the jail on July 9.
- The sheriff's office says jail medical staff and sworn personnel immediately began life-saving measures when Lomax was found.
- Norfolk Fire-Rescue crews arrived on scene, took over CPR and transported him to a local hospital.
- He was later pronounced dead at that hospital; the official cause and manner of death have not been determined.
Who is investigating
Multiple agencies are involved in standard post-incident reviews. The Norfolk Police Department is leading the death investigation while the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) will determine the official cause and manner of death. The Norfolk Sheriff's Office said its Professional Standards Division will perform an internal review to confirm policies and procedures were followed. The incident has also been reported to the Virginia Department of Corrections, which reviews all in-custody deaths.
"The sheriff's office said it is committed to providing a safe environment for those in its custody and extended its condolences to Lomax's family."
Local context and implications
Deaths in custody draw heightened public scrutiny in Norfolk and across Virginia because they raise questions about medical response, detention conditions and oversight. State-level review by the Virginia Department of Corrections and the OCME is routine in these cases; local internal reviews aim to determine whether staff followed established protocols. The results of those inquiries will affect departmental policies and public confidence in the jail's operations.
The investigation remains ongoing. Authorities have said they do not currently suspect foul play. Norfolk residents and policymakers will likely watch for the OCME's findings and any recommendations from the sheriff's office review as part of broader efforts to ensure safety and accountability in local detention facilities.
| Key timeline | Date/time |
|---|---|
| Booking into Norfolk City Jail | July 9 |
| Found unresponsive in cell | July 11, ~11:15 p.m. |
| Pronounced dead at hospital | Evening of July 11 (after transport) |
News Block will follow developments and publish outcomes from the OCME and the Norfolk Sheriff's Office review as they become available.
