CLAYTON COUNTY, Ga. — Editor's Note: The video above is from a previous report.
A celebration of life and balloon release has been planned for a man killed inside the Clayton County Jail.
Johnathan Pettigrew's family will be laying him to rest on Saturday, Jan. 13, at noon. His funeral will be held at the M.D. Walker Funeral Home, which is located on Jonesboro Road in Forest Park.
Loved ones will also hold a balloon release on Friday at 6 p.m. at 1519 Norman Berry Drive in East Point, according to a flyer-- provided by family.
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Johnathan Pettigrew | Photos
Johnathan was beaten to death inside the jail by another inmate last week. Michael Pettigrew, his brother, said Johnathan had been in the jail for nearly two years and was due to be released in just a few days.
Sheriff Allen added that Johnathan had been placed with a new cellmate, identified as Abdul Woodward, before the deadly incident. It appears the cellmate attacked Johnathan after coming into the room upset, according to the sheriff.
Clayton County Sheriff Levon Allen said Woodward, 43, had been in the jail for less than 30 days on baggage removal charges. Woodward now faces charges of felony murder, aggravated assault, and simple battery in connection with his cellmate's death.
Michael said he remembers the moments he heard the news of his brother's passing.
“We get to the hospital and the chaplain tells us that he was actually responsive. He alert when he got to the hospital and that he was shocked that my brother died," he said.
Michael said Johnathan's life ended too soon.
“He’s always been the one that I looked to the most -- the closest to with the bond. So, this loss right here is very tragic for me," Michael said. “The hardest part about today is knowing that the hopes I had for my brother to come out. Seeing him 30, 35 married, children -- things that I know he desired to have. I just know that those things won’t happen."
This is the second homicide at the jail in less than two months. Community activist Meia Ballinger said Clayton County officials need to do better.