Autopsy details in death of inmate at 201 Poplar
By Joel Griffin Moore and Joyce Peterson
Published: Feb. 9, 2023 at 1:06 PM CST
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) – An autopsy report reveals new details in the case of an inmate’s death in Shelby County Jail. And now, the family of 33-year-old Gershun Freeman is calling for all of the jail surveillance video of the encounter to be released.
Freeman was booked into the Shelby County Jail in October of last year on domestic assault and kidnapping charges. While incarcerated, Freeman was involved in an altercation with officers and was restrained. During this restraint, he experienced cardiac arrest and CPR was performed. The CPR was not successful and Freeman was pronounced dead at the scene.
The autopsy report revealed multiple contusions of the body, a scalp laceration, a healing stab wound on his back, and both cardiovascular disease and coronary atherosclerosis.
Based on the autopsy findings and the circumstances of the incident, the cause of death is attributed to exacerbation of cardiovascular disease due to physical altercation and subdual.
The manner of death has been classified as a homicide.
“His death was ruled a homicide. And that means his death occurred because of other people,” said Josh Spickler, executive director of justice reform non-profit Just City.
Spickler said transparency and accountability issues in the county jail are as worrisome as the problems uncovered in the Memphis Police Department investigation of Tyre Nichols’ fatal beating.
”We’re missing a lot of the components of the Tyre Nichols’ case,” said Spickler, “But it’s eerily similar in fact, another man whose death comes at the hands of people charged with protecting him.”
Just how dangerous is the Shelby County Jail? Consider this: Rikers Island, with a jail population of 5,900 inmates, reported 19 deaths in 2022. The Shelby County Jail reported at least 10 deaths last year with a population of 2,300 inmates, making 201 deadlier than the notorious New York jail.
Gershun Freeman’s family told Action News 5 they were desperate for answers last October, and four months later, they’re still desperately waiting to find out what happened to Freeman during that struggle with jailers.
“We just want justice,” his sister Joyce Ellis said. “The tape shown to us was edited. We want tapes released that were promised to us and every guard involved punished.”
“My son went into that jail on two feet,” said Gershun’s mother, Kimberly Freeman, “and he came out with a toe tag. He was my only child, my world… and my world is shattered. I need justice.”
Gershun’s loved ones and community advocates said they will keep pushing for answers, and for change at the Shelby County Jail.
“Whether they’re guilty or not, they deserve protection,” said Spickler. “They deserve dignity. They don’t deserve to die a violent death.”
Shelby County Sheriff Floyd Bonner is in charge of the jail. Action News 5 requested an interview with the sheriff about jail safety or a statement. That request was not fulfilled.
Both the TBI and the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office are investigating Freeman’s death.
The Shelby County District Attorney’s Office released the following statement regarding the investigation:
In October, the District Attorney’s Office was made aware of the death of Mr. Gershun Freeman, who died while in the Shelby County jail. DA Mulroy immediately called in the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation to investigate Mr. Freeman’s death. Additionally, our Justice Review Unit (JRU) has begun reviewing the details of the investigation.
The JRU—who received the medical examiner’s report yesterday evening—will continue their review of the investigation thus far conducted by TBI. The JRU will make a recommendation to DA Mulroy once the investigation is complete.
Because this is an ongoing investigation and has not been completed by TBI or the JRU, this is the only information we can provide at this time.Shelby County District Attorney’s Office
Freeman’s family confirmed they have requested a second autopsy and hired civil rights attorney Ben Crump to represent them. Crump is also representing Tyre Nichols’ family. Local activists posted to Facebook that they plan to protest outside 201 Poplar next Thursday, Feb 16.