30-year-old Samuel Harrell’s death at the Fishkill Correctional Facility in Beacon, New York, has been ruled a homicide, according to the autopsy report obtained by the New York Times. Specifically, the report detailed, Harrell died of cardiac arrhythmia, which resulted from a “physical altercation with corrections officers” — made evident by the cuts and bruises all over his body.
To date, none of the officers involved have had disciplinary action taken against them.
On the evening of his death, Harrell, who had a known history of bipolar disorder and subsequent erratic behavior, packed his belongings and announced he was going home — despite the remaining five years on his prison sentence. He was approached by possibly 20 corrections officers, some of whom have been linked to what prisoners call the “Beat Up Squad.” These officers kicked and punched Harrell and yelled racial slurs at him (Harrell was Black). Inmate Edwin Pearson (who has since been released) witnessed part of the attack and described what he saw: “Like he was a trampoline, they were jumping on him.”
