Crime
Jefferson County jail inmate Charlie Dunn dead after hang himself with bed sheet
JEFFERSON COUNTY, AL — A Jefferson County Jail inmate has died four days after he was discovered attempting to take his own life inside his jail cell.
Authorities have confirmed the death of 27-year-old Charlie James Dunn, a Bessemer resident, following a suicide attempt that involved hanging himself with a bed sheet.
According to the Jefferson County Coroner’s Office, Dunn was found unresponsive in his cell at approximately 3:20 p.m. on Friday, April 26, 2025.
Detention staff immediately intervened, and Dunn was transported to UAB Medical West for emergency treatment.
Despite medical efforts, Dunn was pronounced clinically dead at 3:52 p.m. on Wednesday, May 1. However, he was kept on life support temporarily, as he had elected to be an organ donor.
Jefferson County Circuit Judge David Carpenter ordered all pending criminal charges against Dunn formally dismissed on Thursday.
This legal action allowed his family to authorize organ donation and discontinue life-sustaining measures in accordance with his wishes.
Dunn had been booked into the Jefferson County Jail in Bessemer on April 14, facing charges of drug possession and receiving stolen property.
He was also under indictment in a separate case for attempted murder involving gunfire directed at a vehicle.
His death marks the second recent suicide-related fatality at the Bessemer jail facility, with both inmates succumbing to injuries at UAB Medical West following self-harm incidents.
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office has not commented on any potential policy reviews or procedural changes following these incidents. The matter remains under internal investigation.
Support resources are being made available to jail staff and inmates in the aftermath of the incident.
MT. JULIET, Tenn. — Authorities have identified two victims killed during an active shooter incident at Cedar Creek Marina in Mt. Juliet late Friday night.
The suspect, identified as Gary Haley, a convicted felon with an extensive criminal history, is deceased following an officer-involved shooting, officials confirmed.
Mount Juliet Police officers were dispatched at approximately 9:30 p.m. Friday to the Cedar Creek Marina, located in the 9000 block of Saundersville Road, after receiving reports of a man threatening another individual on the docks.
Due to the active shooter report, a shelter-in-place order was issued for the surrounding area as a precaution.
Upon arrival, officers located an adult male suffering from a gunshot wound.
The victim was later identified as Robby Brogdon, who was transported to a local hospital for emergency medical treatment.
Despite life-saving efforts, Brogdon later succumbed to his injuries.
Investigators determined that the suspected shooter had retreated to a boat within the marina and had barricaded himself inside.
The standoff continued for several hours as officers secured the scene and attempted to resolve the situation safely.
At approximately 1:00 a.m. Saturday, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) reported that the suspect engaged responding officers and fired shots at them under circumstances that remain under investigation. Officers returned fire.
The suspect, Gary Haley, was later found deceased aboard the vessel.
During the course of the response, officers also discovered a second adult male victim, Nathan Jones, who had been shot by the suspect.
Jones was pronounced dead at the scene.
No law enforcement officers were injured during the incident.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has assumed responsibility for the investigation, which includes a homicide, an attempted homicide, and an officer-involved shooting.
TBI agents are actively conducting interviews, collecting evidence, and working to establish a comprehensive timeline of events.
Upon completion of the investigation, findings will be submitted to 15th Judicial District Attorney General Jason Lawson for review.
Authorities stated that additional information will be released as it becomes available.