RACINE, Wis. — A 35-year-old inmate at the Racine County Jail has died after being attacked by another inmate on New Year's Eve.
The inmate's mother identified him Friday as Joseph Lee. His family said he is a father of six and a local rapper known in Racine.
The Racine County Sheriff’s Office (RCSO) said in a press release Thursday that the assault occurred just before noon on Dec. 31 in the dayroom, a common area shared by inmates.
Security footage shows the assault lasted less than a minute, according to the Racine County Sheriff’s Office. A corrections officer discovered Lee during a secondary safety and security check.
Watch: What we know about an inmate assault at the Racine County Jail:
He was taken to a hospital for treatment but was pronounced dead on Jan. 1, according to the Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office, which is leading the investigation.
The inmate accused in the assault has been identified, segregated from other inmates, and faces a charge of first-degree intentional homicide.
An investigation found that all emergency buttons in the cells were functional but were not activated by inmates who witnessed the assault.
Lee's family told TMJ4 they are working to donate his organs this weekend and lay him to rest.
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