A Cook County detainee has filed a lawsuit alleging negligence and civil rights violations following a brutal attack in jail. On November 24, 2025, Darius Pettit filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois against Cook County, its Sheriff Thomas Dart, and several correctional officers. The suit claims that Pettit was violently attacked by fellow inmates due to the defendants’ failure to provide adequate protection.
The incident occurred on December 24, 2024, when Pettit was housed in Division 6, Tier 2 North of the Cook County Jail. According to the complaint, correctional officer Felicity E. Ayala-Mata was responsible for supervising Tier 2N but left it unattended multiple times during her shift. During one such absence, Pettit was attacked by inmates Shaquille Jackson and Tommery Moore, among others. The lawsuit states that prior to the attack, Jackson had threatened Pettit’s life in front of Officer Ayala-Mata, who failed to intervene or report the threat.
Pettit’s legal team argues that this lack of action violated his Fourteenth Amendment rights under the U.S. Constitution and constitutes a breach of duty under Illinois tort law. “Officer Ayala-Mata knew of the impending risk yet chose to disregard it,” reads part of the complaint. The lawsuit also accuses other staff members, including Sergeant Hickman and Lieutenant Hill, of failing to maintain proper staffing levels and supervision at the facility.
The plaintiff is seeking various forms of relief from the court. These include compensatory damages for physical injuries such as facial lacerations and fractures requiring surgery; punitive damages; declaratory judgment stating that the defendants’ actions were unlawful; and attorney’s fees as authorized by federal law.
Representing Pettit is Clinton P. Davis from The Vrdolyak Law Group LLC. The case has been assigned Case ID: 1:25-cv-14347 and will be presided over by judges from the Northern District of Illinois.
Source: 125cv14347_Darius_Petit_v_County_of_Cook_Complaint_Northern_District_of_Illinois.pdf
