John Ray Zamora
Not found on the Texas Attorney General’s published list of deaths in custody.
John Ray Zamora, 33, was the father of four young daughters, and his mother was among the family members who took legal action after his death. He died in February 2022 after being taken into the Willacy County Jail in Texas. His family says he was tased, beaten and pepper sprayed while in handcuffs, that deputies kept beating him after he was taken into the jail, and that he was denied medical care while asking for help. According to a lawsuit, the cause was cardiac arrest, and an expert said the pepper spray could have caused it. Willacy County agreed to pay $1,000,000 to settle the family's federal lawsuit, and the sheriff's office has not responded to requests for comment.
Cause of death, as reported: Killed by staff (disputed; neglect alleged). The family and their attorneys say officers tased, beat and pepper sprayed him while he was in handcuffs, continued beating him after he reached the jail, and denied him medical care while he asked for help, and a federal lawsuit led Willacy County to pay $1,000,000 to settle; an expert told the family's attorney the pepper spray could have caused cardiac arrest.
Reported by: family and their attorneys; attorney Israel Perez (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: John Ray Zamora's family sued over his death in the Willacy County jail and Willacy County agreed to pay $1,000,000 to settle the federal lawsuit, while claims against the City of Lyford remain pending.