Davon Gillians
Davon Gillians was 22 and from Charleston, and his father, Robert Conyers, said the family needs answers about his death. He had sickle cell disease and took medication to control it, and he died on May 19, 2021, after being held at the Federal Correctional Complex Coleman in Sumter County, Florida. The Sumter County medical examiner ruled the death a homicide, according to the family's attorneys, who say he was kept in a restraint chair and in solitary confinement without food, water, or medication, and was pepper-sprayed after a cellmate attacked him. The family's lawsuit alleges that officers punched and choked him beforehand and that staff denied him medical care despite his illness. The Bureau of Prisons has declined to discuss the claims, the prison has not explained the death to the family, and the FBI is reportedly investigating.
Cause of death, as reported: Killed by staff (disputed; neglect alleged). The Sumter County medical examiner ruled the death a homicide, citing sickle cell crisis with pepper spray and prolonged restraint as contributing factors, while the family's lawsuit says staff punched, choked and restrained him and denied him food, water and medication.
Reported by: Sumter County Medical Examiner (medical examiner or coroner); Davon Gillians's family lawsuit (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: His family sued the federal Bureau of Prisons over his death at Federal Correctional Complex Coleman, and the case has no reported settlement or award.