Terry L. Cooper
Terry L. Cooper was 25, the youngest of five siblings and the only son, and the father of a young daughter. He died on May 19, 2016, at Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora, New York, where he was held. His family's federal lawsuit says guards assaulted him that evening, then delayed or denied the inhaler and medical care he asked for during an asthma attack. A federal jury later found that officers used excessive force against him and awarded his mother, Tracy Yvonne Cooper, $9.25 million. The state autopsy classified the death as natural, caused by asthma, while a second pathologist, Zhongxue Hua, said it should have been ruled a homicide; his father said, "We're looking for justice."
Cause of death, as reported: Killed by staff (disputed; neglect alleged). A federal jury found that officers used excessive force against him, and his family's lawsuit says staff delayed or denied his inhaler and gave ineffective CPR, while pathologist Michael Sikirica ruled the death natural from asthma and second pathologist Zhongxue Hua said it should have been classified as a homicide.
Reported by: Forensic pathologist Michael Sikirica (medical examiner or coroner); Second pathologist Zhongxue Hua (medical examiner or coroner); Family and their attorneys, in a federal civil rights lawsuit (family or their lawyers); Federal jury (court).
Lawsuit: His family sued in federal court over the alleged assault and denied medical care, and a federal jury later awarded his mother $9.25 million after finding that officers used excessive force against him.