Willie Lee
Willie Lee died in March 2014 while held at Orleans Parish Prison in New Orleans. Surveillance video shows him in a fight with another person held at the jail, after which he collapsed. Orleans Parish Coroner Dr. Jeffrey Rouse said the death was a homicide, concluding that a fatal heart attack was brought on by the exertion of the fight, with advanced heart disease. The family's civil suit against the sheriff's office says he might have survived with proper medical care. New Orleans police declined to make an arrest.
Cause of death, as reported: Killed by another person in custody (disputed; neglect alleged). The coroner ruled a fatal heart attack triggered by a fight with another inmate and classed the manner as homicide, while his family's civil suit says he might have survived with proper medical care.
Reported by: Orleans Parish Coroner Dr. Jeffrey Rouse (medical examiner or coroner); his family's civil suit (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: His family sued the Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office over his death, claiming he might have survived with proper medical care, and no settlement or award amount has been reported.