It happened in the predawn darkness of a Sunday morning when most people were still sleeping, but inside the Bessemer jail a 24-year-old man’s life was quietly ending without anyone realizing it. Hours passed in silence until the routine morning check at approximately 8:15 a.m. revealed that D’Koleman Juvan Harris was unresponsive in his cell, lying motionless in a way that immediately signaled something was terribly wrong.
Correctional officers rushed in first, followed by on-site medical personnel who quickly initiated CPR and other lifesaving measures. Witnesses said the response was fast and serious, with staff cycling through every tool and training available to them. But despite their efforts, the outcome didn’t change. Within minutes it was clear that Harris could not be revived, and the medical team declared him deceased right there inside the facility.
The Jefferson County Coroner’s Office arrived soon after, beginning the somber process of documenting the scene and taking custody of Harris’ body. A preliminary examination revealed no obvious signs of trauma, no visible injuries, and no indication of a struggle during the night, raising more questions than answers.
Detectives and jail administrators are now working to determine exactly what happened during those silent overnight hours when Harris died without triggering alarms, disturbances, or calls for help.As standard protocol requires, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency has been notified and will conduct an independent investigation into Harris’ death.
Officials will review surveillance footage, interview corrections staff, check logs from the overnight shift, and await toxicology results that may shed light on whether a medical issue, substance intake, or another factor played a role.For now, the jail remains under scrutiny, with Harris’ family and the wider community looking to authorities for clarity on how a young man could lose his life inside a cell without warning.
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