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JUST IN: Police investigating death of Fairfax man in Alexandria jail

The William G. Truesdale Adult Detention Center (via City of Alexandria)

The Alexandria Sheriff’s Office and Alexandria Police Department are investigating an in-custody death at the jail.

Ahntais Lucas, 39, from Fairfax County, was found unresponsive and alone in his cell experiencing a medical emergency. The release said the jail’s medical staff tried to treat Lucas but he was pronounced deceased at 4:42 a.m.

According to a release from the City of Alexandria:

The Alexandria Sheriff’s Office and the Alexandria Police Department are investigating the in-custody death of a local inmate at the William G. Truesdale Adult Detention Center.

This morning, February 26, just before 4 a.m., a deputy found an inmate unresponsive in his cell alone and experiencing an apparent medical emergency. A deputy immediately called for assistance from the jail’s medical staff, and both began life-saving measures. Medics from the Alexandria Fire Department responded and continued treatment, but the patient was pronounced deceased at 4:42 a.m.

The deceased is Ahntais Lucas, 39, of Fairfax County. He had been in custody since August 20, 2023.

Because this is an in-custody death, the Alexandria Police Department is conducting the death investigation. The Sheriff’s Office will conduct a review of the incident to ensure all policies and procedures were followed.

About the Author

  • Vernon Miles is the ALXnow cofounder and editor. He's covered Alexandria since 2014 and has been with Local News Now since 2018. When he's not reporting, he can usually be found playing video games or Dungeons and Dragons with friends.