Victor Russo
Victor Russo, 60, died on February 25, 2022, at UAB Hospital after being held at Donaldson Correctional Facility in Bessemer, Alabama. The Jefferson County coroner's office said he had blunt force trauma injuries and had not yet ruled on the manner of his death. The Alabama Department of Corrections said its investigation found sufficient evidence that a correctional lieutenant used excessive force against him. According to the Equal Justice Initiative, Russo wrote to the warden the day before that the lieutenant had struck him repeatedly in the head and sprayed chemical agents in his mouth, then placed him in segregation without medical attention. EJI says the lieutenant was later charged with assault.
Cause of death, as reported: Killed by staff (disputed; neglect alleged). Russo wrote to the warden that a lieutenant struck him repeatedly in the head, sprayed chemical agents in his mouth and left him in segregation without medical attention, and EJI says the same, while the coroner had not yet ruled the death a homicide.
Reported by: Chief Deputy Coroner Bill Yates (medical examiner or coroner); Alabama Department of Corrections (the agency that held him); Equal Justice Initiative (advocates).
Sources (9)
- Inmate At Bessemer Prison Becomes Facility's 3rd Death In A Week
- Alabama Prison Inmate Found Unresponsive in Cell Dies at Hospital
- Alabama inmate convicted of capital murder killed at William Donaldson Correctional Facility
- Donaldson Correctional Officer arrested after death of an inmate
- Overdoses suspected in 2 Jefferson County Jail inmate deaths in 24 hours; lockdown underway
- Second Homicide in Three Days at Alabama Prison
- Alabama Officers Charged with Negligent Homicide of Incarcerated Man
- Lieutenant Charged with Assault Following Prisoner’s Death at Donaldson
- Another Man Stabbed to Death at Donaldson Prison