Bashar Muhieddin Ghazawi
Bashar Muhieddin Ghazawi, 39, died in October 2022 after being held at the Louisville Metro Corrections center in Louisville, Kentucky. Corrections officials said he was found in medical distress in his cell on the evening of October 3 and taken to UofL Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, and they suspected an overdose. His lawyer said he believed Ghazawi had severe mental illness and that the overdose was another suicide attempt, and that the family learned of the death only when they appeared in court. The union president said other people in the cell block found him without alerting staff or using Narcan before officers called for rescue, and internal and police investigations were opened.
Cause of death, as reported: Died of an overdose (disputed). Corrections officials suspected an overdose, but his lawyer says it was a suicide attempt by a man with severe mental illness.
Reported by: Louisville Metro Department of Corrections (the agency that held him); corrections union president; his lawyer.