Ishmail Thompson
Ishmail Thompson, 29, was an entrepreneur and die-hard Lakers fan who loved being with his family, according to his obituary. He was held at Dauphin County Prison in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, after police brought him in for an involuntary mental-health commitment. In July 2021, jail staff used pepper spray, a spit hood and a restraint chair on him, and he became unresponsive and never regained consciousness, dying days later. The county coroner ruled the manner of death undetermined and attributed it to complications from a cardiac dysrhythmia, while the county's news release described a medical episode; a medical examiner consulted by PennLive called the death a homicide. The county later agreed to a $4.25 million settlement with his family.
Cause of death, as reported: Killed by staff (disputed; neglect alleged). The county first described a medical episode and the coroner ruled the manner undetermined with a cardiac dysrhythmia cause, but his family's lawsuit says guards pepper-sprayed him, put a spit hood on him and restrained him in a restraint chair, and a medical examiner consulted by PennLive called the death a homicide.
Reported by: Dauphin County (the agency that held him); Dauphin County Coroner Graham Hetrick (medical examiner or coroner); his family's lawsuit (family or their lawyers); a medical examiner consulted by PennLive (medical examiner or coroner).
Lawsuit: His family sued Dauphin County and the county agreed to a $4.25 million settlement over his death at Dauphin County Prison.