Attorney general joins investigation into inmate's death at Essex County Correctional Facility

The Attorney General's Office is joining the investigation into the death of an inmate at the Essex County Correctional Facility on Friday, officials said Saturday.

Authorities have released little information on the death and nave not provided the identity of the inmate. The man was pronounced dead at 9:03 a.m. on Friday at University Hospital in Newark, said Thomas Fennelly, an assistant prosecutor.

As of Friday, the death was being investigated by the jail's office of internal affairs and the Essex County Prosecutor's Office.

But on Saturday the Attorney General's Office said it would also be involved because it is obligated to investigate any death of a person in custody.

The Attorney General's Office will be investigating "the conduct of correctional officers and other jail staff, and the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office investigating the conduct of any other parties that may be responsible," Peter Aseltine, an attorney general spokesman, wrote in a statement.

Further details, such as the inmate's age, the manner of death and where in the jail the emergency first began, have not been released.

Officials did not confirm the manner of death and whether it was suspicious.

The death follows a September incident in which a group of inmates nearly beat another inmate to death in the jail, which was captured on video.

Related: Months after brutal attack by fellow inmates at Essex County jail, victim remains in coma

The footage shows the men pummeling the inmate mercilessly, kicking, punching and stomping on him before dropping a microwave oven on his head.

As of last week, the victim, Jayshawn Boyd, 22, remained in a coma at University Hospital.

Seven inmates have been charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault, conspiracy to commit murder and other offenses related to the September incident, the victim's attorney said.

Nicholas Katzban is a breaking news reporter for NorthJersey.com. To get breaking news directly to your inbox, sign up for our newsletter.

Email: katzban@northjersey.com

Twitter: @nicholaskatzban

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Essex County NJ jail: Inmate dies while in custody at facility