Shanquella Robinson’s Death: Federal Prosecutors Decide Not to Pursue Charges
In February 2020, Shanquella Robinson, a 25-year-old Black woman, died in police custody in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana. Her death sparked outrage and protests, with many demanding justice for Robinson and her family. However, on September 22, 2021, federal prosecutors announced that they would not pursue charges against the officers involved in Robinson’s death.
Robinson was arrested on February 20, 2020, for allegedly stealing a cellphone from a store. She was taken to the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center, where she was placed in a holding cell. According to the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, Robinson began exhibiting “strange behavior” and was taken to a hospital for evaluation. She was later returned to the jail and placed in a restraint chair. Shortly after being placed in the chair, Robinson became unresponsive and was pronounced dead at the hospital.
The Jefferson Parish Coroner’s Office ruled Robinson’s death a homicide, citing “compression of the torso” as the cause of death. The coroner’s report also noted that Robinson had “multiple blunt force injuries” and that she had been restrained with “handcuffs, leg irons, and a hobble restraint.”
Following Robinson’s death, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office launched an internal investigation. The officers involved in Robinson’s arrest and detention were placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation. In May 2020, the Sheriff’s Office announced that it had completed its investigation and that the officers involved had been cleared of any wrongdoing.
However, Robinson’s family and supporters continued to demand justice. In August 2020, they filed a lawsuit against the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office and several officers involved in Robinson’s arrest and detention. The lawsuit alleged that Robinson had been subjected to excessive force and that her constitutional rights had been violated.
The federal investigation into Robinson’s death began in November 2020, when the Department of Justice announced that it was launching a civil rights investigation. The investigation focused on whether the officers involved in Robinson’s arrest and detention had violated her civil rights.
On September 22, 2021, federal prosecutors announced that they would not pursue charges against the officers involved in Robinson’s death. In a statement, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana said that “after a careful and thorough review of the evidence, we have concluded that there is insufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that any officer willfully violated Ms. Robinson’s civil rights.”
The decision not to pursue charges has been met with disappointment and anger from Robinson’s family and supporters. In a statement, Robinson’s mother, Shantell Johnson, said that “my daughter deserved justice, and I will never stop fighting for her.” Civil rights organizations, including the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund and the ACLU of Louisiana, have also criticized the decision not to pursue charges.
The decision not to pursue charges in Robinson’s death highlights the challenges of holding law enforcement officers accountable for their actions. Despite the widespread protests and calls for justice that followed Robinson’s death, the officers involved have been cleared of any wrongdoing. The case serves as a reminder of the need for systemic change in law enforcement and criminal justice to ensure that all individuals are treated fairly and justly.
