Fulton County jail inmate facing drug charges dies in apparent suicide

Shannon Thompson (Credit: Fulton County Sheriff's Office)

Shannon Thompson (Credit: Fulton County Sheriff's Office)

A 40-year-old man who was found dead of apparent suicide on Saturday was facing drug-related charges, jail officials said.

Shannon Thompson had been in the Fulton County jail for four days after having been arrested Aug. 8 in Alpharetta, according to jail records.

His cellmate reported the death to jail officials, Fulton County jail spokeswoman Tracy Flanagan said.

“At risk inmates are checked on frequently,” Flanagan said.

Thompson, a former convicted felon, was charged with possession of heroin, cocaine and marijuana in the Aug. 8 arrest, but he also faced similar charges from an Aug. 3 arrest in Roswell.

On Aug. 3, Thompson was arrested on charges of DUI drugs, possession of drug-related objects and possession of less than 1 ounce of marijuana. He was released from jail on a surety bond, according to jail records.

He was arrested in 2002 and twice in 2003 on drug charges and charges of possession of a firearm by a felon, according to jail records.

No additional information was immediately available.

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