Chinedu Valentine Okobi

How they died

Less-than-lethal force

A deputy attempted to stop pedestrian Chinedu Valentine Okobi for alleged jaywalking. Okobi ignored the deputy who called for backup. When backup arrived, Okobi resisted arrest and the first deputy tasered him. Okobi fell to the ground on his back, but refused orders to turn over on his stomach, so he was tasered three more times. After the fourth tasering, Okobi, who weighed 300 pounds, got to his feet and began struggling with several deputies attempting to restrain him. After five minutes they were able to handcuff Okobi and put him in a seated position. By the time the ambulance arrived, Okobi had died. According to coroner, Okobi died from "cardiac arrest following physical exertion, physical restraint, and recent electro-muscular disruption." Deputy cleared of wrongdoing, but two civil suits were filed against the city, including one for racial profiling.

Why we remember them

This record exists so that Chinedu Valentine Okobi, and all who are named in this archive, are never reduced to a number.

References & sources