Prison Officials confirmed that inmate Rashawn “Turtle” Shabazz died Thursday morning after a police-assisted operation at His Majesty’s Prison.
According to reports, prison officials had been trying to take Shabazz to the medical unit for treatment, but he barricaded himself inside his cell and refused to leave. He said police assistance was requested after Shabazz allegedly threatened officers.
Police reportedly used rubber bullets and tear gas during the operation. Officials said Shabazz was removed from the cell alive but began coughing and was taken to Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre, where he later died.
The confirmation follows allegations that Shabazz, who reportedly had significant mental health challenges, had been confined to a high-security unit for months and may not have been receiving prescribed medication.
Sources also claim prison staff were not warned about the operation or provided with protective equipment despite the deployment of tear gas. Witnesses further allege that Shabazz was transported from the prison in the back of a pickup truck.
Prison officials later met with Shabazz’s family, explained the circumstances surrounding the incident and offered condolences.
An investigation and autopsy are expected to determine the circumstances and cause of Shabazz’s death. Authorities have not yet addressed the additional allegations concerning his medical care, staff safety and transportation.
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They knew his condition so why the tear gas? Mental health is a serious issue. They should be sued
So who gonna be responsible if he refuse treatmentan hes sick why use tear gas on him this is not right who uses tear gas on sick man
At no time did anyone think about including his family, before doing all those horrible things to someone with a known mental disorder?
Pennyfeather should be suspended forthwith. While the investigation takes place.
This is a real wicked thing to do to an inmate who already has mental issues
Dying in prison cannot be something easy. I can’t imagine dying with not knowing what upgrades my country have. But if he saw that it was the only way out and he rather die than suffer then, farewell and condolences to the families
Is that a way of covering the truth? I hope Antigua.news keep us “updated” on this matter. Still waiting to hear the update on the other guy they “found” dead in his cell.
I know his father. Im sorry he died this way. Jah. Some families have it rough., But I dont understand the drama associated with getting the man medicated. So you mean someone died because he was refusing to take pharmaceuticals? Mek ummm mek sence please
Well we are all very short minded about these Mental Criminals, a few years ago a Mental Criminal Struck Corporal Common in his head at the St. John’s Police Station Killing Him On The Spot Leaves His Wife And Children If You Stop At The Stop Light Out Side The St. John’s Police Station, Just Look Accross On The Wall And See What You See, And All They Said HE IS Crazy, A MAN Name Barnes One Time Goes Down To The West Bus Station And Chop Two Women To Death And Injured The 3rd Person And All They Say HE IS A Mental Patient A Guy Hit My Former School And Class Mate With A 2×4 In His Head In All Saints Killing Him And What They Say HE Crazy, What Would We Say If Shabbaz Had KILLS An Officer OR Someone Else What Would We Say,HE Crazy? I AM Not Condoning The Rear Gas And Rubber Bullets But In Times And Situation Like These We Needs Good Dialoging Becauze These Mental Criminals Cannot Be Housed At Clear View Mental Institute As Inocent People Lives Will Be At Risk Very Unfortunate Very Sad!!
All over Antigua there is an out cry as to how persons are treated by law enforcement.
There is mismanagement mistreatment in that jail for so long and they turn a Def ear.
If people keep winning off of freebies and not the big issues of a country how will corruption end.
All these long time politicians need to retire take a break sit down and let honest people hold the mantle greed and corruption is killing the island and it is sick
I can believe what im reading
Mentally ill persons are human beings as well and ought not to have been treated in this manner. Using tear gas on the prisoner/patient who was already confined to a cell was downright ridiculous and wrong and showed how incompetent and unprepared the officers were to handle and deal with a mentally ill patient. In the first place, this was not even a police issue. There are prescribed ways of dealing and treating with mentally ill persons and I don’t think the police are trained for that.Family members and others must demand justice cause the handling of this matter was poor, silly and downright stupid, resulting in the unnecessary and uncalled for death of the prisoner.
When you criticize the system ,people get very defensive for political reasons . It was known by the authorities he was sick ,yet they choose to tear gas and used rubber bullets on him. From what i read ,it would have been wise to get a family member to assist talking to him. Just the way you called them in to explained after his,death, you could have called for their assistance before. His death was preventable.
WHAT THE HELL…! …POLICE PRISON CELL EXTRACTION…? …UTTERANCES OF STUPIDITY …IS AN OFFICIAL ‘COMEDY’ GOING TO CALL THIS NEWS REPLY ‘…DEFAMATION?’
***
APPARENT ADMINISTRATIVE BLUNDER OR TWO RECKLESS MOVES?
***
Professional/Administrative perspective ONLY:
***
NOW:
Following this news report, this seemed to have been ‘…TWO RECKLESS MOVES: by
(i) ‘…PRISON AUTHORITIES: and
(ii) …POLICE AUTHORITIES.’
***
THE LATTER HAD NO ‘…RESPONSIBILITY’ TO SEE THAT’ …PRISONERS:’ whether or not
(a) ‘…SERVING CUSTODIAL SENTENCES: or
(b) …ON COURT’S REMAND: to
(a) …BE REMOVED FROM ANY PRISON FACILITY: to
(b) …RECEIVE MEDICAL TREATMENT, WITHIN OR WITHOUT THE PRISON FACILITY.’
***
BLUNTLY PUT:
IF THEY CANNOT MANAGE IT, THEY SHALL LEAVE IT.
***
INTERLOPING OFFICIAL COMEDY:
Some ‘…INTERLOPING OFFICIAL COMEDY’ might just regard this reply as ‘…DEFAMATION.’
***
THIS SEEMED TO BE ‘…HOG-WASHING EXCUSE: with …POLICE ASSISTED PRISON CELL EXTRACTION.’
***
QUESTION
WAS THEN ‘KILLED PRISONER: a
(i) ‘…BAD TOOTH: and
(ii) …THE POLICE THE DENTISTS?’
***
DRAWN INFERENCES:
Reasonably drawn inference suggested two things
(i) ‘…SHEER STUPIDITY: or
(ii) …SHEER BRUTALITY.’
***
INVESTIGATION SHALL BE ALONG THESE LINES TO SHOW:
(a) ‘…JUSTIFICATION: or
(b) …CRIMINAL LIABILITY/ACCOUNTABILITY.
***
UTTERANCES OF STUPIDITY:
(i) ‘…PRISONER ‘…BARRICADED HIMSELF IN A PRISON CELL:
(ii) …REFUSED TO LEAVE LAWFULLY OCCUPIED CELL: for
(iii) …MEDICAL TREATMENT FROM WHOM: either
(iv) …THE PRISON-ASSIGNED MEDICAL DOCTOR: or
(v) …THE PRISON-ASSIGNED NURSE?’
***
BEFORE INVITING OUTSIDE ASSISTANCE:
JUST WHAT BECAME OF THEIR ‘,,.BASIC FIRST AID TRAINING? of
(vi) …IF THEY CAN’T MOVE THE PATIENT: then
(vii) …GET THE DOCTOR TO VISIT THE PATIENT.’
***
AMAZING:
PRISONER UNDER LOCKDOWN:
ACCESSIBLE ONLY BY KEY HELD BY PRISON AUTHORITIES:
(iii) …THREATENED PRISON OFFICERS…? [Paragraph 2].
***
DEFAMATION was used in a news story, regarding the ‘…EXTRAJUDICIAL POLICE KILLING: of
(a) ‘…BOLANS COMMUNITY MEMBER, KAHLEEL SIMON 18’ [August 26, 2025].
(b) …IS A ‘…NEWS-REPORTING BUFFOON,’ GOING TO SO WRITE AGAIN?
***
WHAT THE HELL…!
***
TALK GOOD.
***
People who are supposed to be in a noble law enforcement career and they don’t think their pay adds up to the stress of the job and how expensive life is……….Equals don’t give a shit, get overly aggressive, to hell with that don’t care, let’s get him outta there by any means necessary, I’m already stressed let’s get this over with…… Very sad RIP Turkle..
RUBBER BULLETS AND TEAR GAS USED TO GET ONE MAN OUT OF A PRISON CELL. THAT IS UNBELIEVABLE AND WAY OUT OF PLACE.THE FAMILY OF THIS MAN NEEDS TO FILE A LAW SUIT AGAINST ALL INVOLVED.WHY DID THE PRISON AUTHORITY CALL IN THE POLICE? THAT SHOULD BE AND MUST BE EXPLAINED TO THE PUBLIC AT LARGE.
@Wilfred Hastings
Dear Wilfred
Please be reminded that we are talking about a 8×12 cell with one prisoner who should not have access to any weapon.
That said the police force has several individuals trained In close combat. Some of them actually teach self defense, quick take down, and disarming a suspect of a firearm, knife, or missile.
Pennyfeather ought to know that several soldiers did one year and six months stint in China learning close combat techniques.
No excuse none….. coroner’s inquest
This is very sad. An unnecessary and tragic death and it’s all too easy to blame personnel of the Police and/or prison authorities. It would appear, from the report, that excessive and inappropriate measures were taken in this case. However, the fact is that mental health is a huge issue in the country and had been ill addressed by successive Governments for years. Clareview has struggled with inadequate financing and personnel shortages for ever. Families don’t know how to look after relatives who are beyond their care and control and there is no sensible protocol for getting a referral to governed funded psychiatric care. I hope the publicity surrounding this case will draw attention to the desperate need for better measures to care for those in our community who suffer from mental illness. Education, protection and funding is also necessary to help families affected by mental illness and for the safety of the professionals working on the front lines with this often unpredictable and dangerous population.
Had a break in. Went to give my statement and the officer could not form sentences. Thank god I didn’t hand in a written statement because reading and writing go hand in hand. Bigger surprise, the senior official approving the report was in the same boat as the officer. So this shouldnt surprise us as to the level of incompetence.
@Fuller. Who else to blame, but not the same ” professionals” who are paid to respond to such incidents?
It’s like going to the doctor for a cut on your face, but he cut of your private instead.. wasn’t he/she a ” professional”. Stop writing statements just to sound educated, because all you’re doing is compounding the already effed up situation.
Yes, the ” professionals” has to be blame for the man’s death, since the man didn’t kill himself with rubber bullets and tear gas. Your hypocrisy is just sickening, for real.
to you prisoners in jail are you happy top be there missing your freedom your family? why rape? why steal? why kill? is it worth it? would you like that the things you do to others happen to a loved one or family member. rot in jail are you ms.
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