A Washington, DC teacher was found not breathing and unresponsive by police after being handcuffed by security guards in an apartment complex. Despite being given CPR and transported by medical staff to a hospital, Alonzo Smith was declared dead an hour later. While details of his death are emerging, Steven W. Hawkins, executive director of Amnesty International USA made the following statement:
“The Metropolitan Police Department must conduct its investigation into Alonzo Smith’s death in a thorough, independent and impartial manner and conclude it as promptly as possible. Smith’s family must be kept informed throughout the investigation. If the investigation indicates that his death was unlawful, those responsible should be criminally prosecuted.”