Kenyan man reportedly killed by seven police officers in USA; he was ‘smothered’ at hospital

Seven police officers in Virginia, United States, have been arrested and charged with second-degree murder in the death of Irvo Otieno, a Kenyan who prosecutors say was fatally "smothered" while in custody.

The 28-year-old Kenyan living in the U.S died on March 6 this year at a state mental health facility during the intake process as he was being transferred from a Henrico County jail.

According to the deceased mother Caroline Ouko, on March 3 a report was made to the police against her son - who she says was suffering from mental distress- by one of the neighbours.

Police arrest

But before she could call her son's psychiatrist for a special movement to a mental health facility, police officers surrounded their house and arrested Otieno after the said report of a possible burglary. They handcuffed him and took him to Henrico Doctors' Hospital and eventually to Henrico County Jail.

Ouko suspects that it is in this jail that Otieno was tortured by police officers and later rushed to a state mental health facility where he died.

"He died of asphyxia due to being smothered to death, thanks to having at least seven people, including the defendant, on top of him and holding him down," Commonwealth’s Attorney Ann Cabell Baskervill said at a court hearing Wednesday, March 15.

Cabell says there is a 12-minute video evidence that shows Otieno was held on the ground for 12 minutes.

Mark Krudys, an attorney for Otieno’s family says he was treated brutally.

“The family is truly grief-stricken after learning of the brutal nature of Irvo’s death and his inhumane treatment in the hours preceding his death. The public, and experienced mental health professionals alike, will be appalled when the facts of this case are fully made known.”

Otieno went to the U.S at the age of 4. Preliminary investigations have revealed that he was on medication for mental illness, but he was not able to take the medication while in custody.