Harold Brooks
Harold Brooks, 37, of the Lafayette area, died on January 24, 2026, at the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola, where he was held, and he died at the prison infirmary. The West Feliciana Parish Coroner's Office, in a postmortem report by forensic pathologist Christopher Ramos, M.D., lists coronary artery disease as the cause of death, with methamphetamine ingestion contributing, and classifies the manner as accidental. The sheriff's office said it learned of an altercation between Brooks and several correctional officers during its investigation, and officials said he fought with corrections officers before he died. The ACLU of Louisiana says the autopsy shows Brooks experienced extraordinary violence and is demanding release of the video footage.
Cause of death, as reported: Died of illness (disputed). The West Feliciana Parish Coroner's Office attributes the death to coronary artery disease with methamphetamine contributing, but the ACLU of Louisiana says the autopsy shows Brooks suffered extraordinary violence and is demanding release of video footage.
Reported by: West Feliciana Parish Coroner's Office (forensic pathologist Christopher Ramos, M.D.) (medical examiner or coroner); ACLU of Louisiana (advocates).