RACINE — Davonte Carraway — an inmate at the Racine County Jail who is accused in connection to the Dec. 31, 2024, attack of Joseph Lee — pleaded not guilty to first-degree intentional homicide Thursday.
According to online court records, Carraway, 29, is scheduled to appear in court June 27.
Allegations
According to previous Journal Times , a criminal complaint stated that the 47-second attack occurred in a dayroom at the Racine County Jail around 12:15 p.m.
Lee, who was 35, was severely beaten and rendered unconscious. Jail staff noticed him around 12:37 p.m., when an officer returned to the dayroom to collect lunch trays.
Lee was pronounced dead Jan. 1.
According to the criminal complaint, other inmates reportedly witnessed the attack and tried to intervene, but allegedly felt threatened by Carraway. The complaint also stated that no one attempted to seek help from jail staff, and no one activated emergency alerts or tried to render aid.
Carraway reportedly told detectives that he initiated the attack because Lee was being loud and would share details about Carraway’s personal business with other inmates in the dayroom.
Carraway also alleged that Lee hitched up his pants, indicating Lee was preparing to attack Carraway.
According to the complaint, surveillance video reportedly shows Lee hitching his pants but doesn’t indicate Lee was preparing to become aggressive.
In the video, Carraway and Lee can reportedly be seen exiting a cell and “exchanging words.â€
Then, Carraway allegedly strikes Lee on the left side of his face, causing Lee’s head to strike a cell door. Carraway allegedly continued to strike Lee and eventually placed him in a garbage bin.
