One dead, others injured at Bibb County jail after inmates unlocked a cell block door in latest violence at lockup

A man was stabbed to death and several others were injured late Wednesday afternoon when violence erupted among inmates in the Bibb County jail in downtown Macon.

Breele Jahiem Johnson, whose 22nd birthday was earlier this week, died from injuries, Bibb County Coroner Leon Jones said Wednesday afternoon. The inmates injured included Willie James Haugabrook III, 40; Brandon Carnell Willis, 19; Stacey Motez Matthews, 22; and Isaiah Joshua Bradley, 22. Haugabrook and Willis were taken to the hospital with Johnson, while Matthews and Bradley were treated at the jail, according to a statement from the sheriff’s office.

Sheriff David Davis said five to eight inmates in cell block C jimmied open the security door to cell block D and attacked the inmates inside. Several inmates were armed with improvised weapons including shanks, and many tried to cover their faces during the attack to disguise their identities, the sheriff said. 

“Every inmate who was there and is able to talk will be interviewed so we can figure out what exactly transpired,” Davis told a half dozen reporters in a news conference outside the jail about two hours later.

Family members of Johnson could be heard wailing with grief and shouting as they gathered in the parking lot of a bail bonds business across the street from the jail. 

“They jumped on him,” said Ed Johnson, who learned by word of mouth that his nephew was slain in the attack. “(People) need to pay attention because this is unnecessary.”  

Breele Johnson’s death comes amid increased public scrutiny and community outcry about poor and unsafe conditions at the jail, which is aging and overcrowded. A large group of Maconites protested outside the jail last week, eventually getting Davis to speak with them before they marched to City Hall. 

The jail census on Wednesday reported 1,019 inmates, which exceeds its capacity of 966 inmates. 

Annual grand jury reports since 2021 have repeatedly detailed the squalid conditions, hazards and disrepair at the jail, which was built in 1979 and expanded in 2007.

At least eight people have died in the jail over the past six years. In 2023, four inmates escaped and were on the lam for weeks, drawing national attention to the county lockup.

The county faces the dilemma of whether to build a new one or expand the current one – and how to pay for either option.  

The mayor and the sheriff have discussed conducting a feasibility study to determine the best option, but it is unclear when or if that will occur. 

“I’m sorry it happened this way, but I hope this right here opens up a lot of eyes,” Ed Johnson said. “The feds need to take over down here because Bibb County do what they want to do.” 

Records show Breele Jahiem Johnson had been in jail since June 6, 2023, on charges including theft of stolen property and aggravated assault. The charges stemmed from an incident in which Breele Johnson and three others, including two 16-year-olds, were accused of firing shots at someone near Pendleton Homes on Houston Avenue from a stolen Chevrolet Lumina.

Editor’s note: A previous version of this story stated that three other inmates were injured in addition to Johnson. Four other inmates were hurt, the sheriff’s office said Wednesday.