Another Police Custody Death: Alonzo Smith Dies After Being Handcuffed in Washington, DC
There has been another mysterious death of an African-American while in police custody.
Alonzo Smith, 27, was found by Washington, D.C., police on the floor of an apartment complex, handcuffed and unconscious Sunday morning, FOX5 reports. Smith, who worked as a teacher's assistant, was reportedly in custody with special police, who were the security guards in the building at the time.
Washington, D.C., officers arrived on the scene early Sunday responding to an "assault in progress." The police performed CPR on Smith, but he was taken to an area hospital where he died shortly after.
Smith was not armed, according to a family member. There are also claims that a witness heard Smith yelling for help in the hallway. There are many questions to this story. An investigation is currently underway.
The Smith's family lawyer said that Smith was alive before he was apprehended by security guards. The attorney believes that Smith may have been beaten. An autopsy report is still pending.
Currently, Smith's mother, Beverly Smith, has launched a GoFundMe page to raise money toward his funeral and burial.
"We all know he was loved by many," she wrote.
Watch BET.com video on the several deaths of Black women who were in police custody.
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(Photo: Alonzo Smith via Facebook)
