Anthony Johnson Jr.'s death while in custody at the Tarrant County jailed was ruled a homicide by suffocation, according to the medical examiner's report.
Anthony Johnson Jr. and his mother. Johnson died in April while in custody at the Tarrant County jail. His death was ruled a homicide Friday following an autopsy.after he refused to leave his cell during a contraband check and fought with jailers, who used pepper spray to detain him. Johnson’s death is one of 63 that have occurred within the Tarrant County jail since 2017, all of which have brought increased scrutiny into operations at the jail.
One jailer, identified as Moreno, can be seen kneeling on Johnson for about 90 seconds. The video ends once jailers prepared to move Johnson, who the sheriff’s office said later became “unresponsive” and died.Video: Cellphone video shows Tarrant County jailer kneel on inmate who later died after struggle
The Tarrant County medical examiner report ruled the death a homicide by chemical and mechanical asphyxiation Friday. Asphyxiation, or suffocation, is a lack of oxygen in the body, which could cause a person to pass out or even die. Chemical asphyxiation is caused by the presence of chemicals that can prevent the body from intaking oxygen, such as chemicals present in pepper spray, while mechanical asphyxiation occurs when an object or physical force prevents the body from taking in oxygen.
The Tarrant County sheriff’s office said in a statement the finding of chemical asphyxiation can be attributed to the use of pepper spray as well as the presence of methamphetamine. The statement also said the case is still under investigation by both the Texas Rangers and the sheriff’s office internal affairs unit.
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