Lavone Smith, 25

Died July 27, 2007 at 4:59 a.m.

Lavone Smith, 25, a black man, suffered a puncture wound to the torso while imprisoned at Los Angeles County Twin Towers jail at 450 Bauchet Street at 9:45 a.m. Thursday, July 26. He died at 4:59 a.m. Friday, July 27.

Investigators said he told deputies he had fallen and injured his back on a bunk. Finally, the pain was too much, and he was taken to the infirmary, where doctors discovered the wound in his back.

He was transported to a hospital for surgery, but died, apparently from very slow internal bleeding. He had been in some kind of scuffle with other inmates prior to reporting the injury, they said. Detectives are investigating.