A news conference was held in Baldwin Thursday morning on the death of Damon Abraham last month. The family, including Abraham’s sister pictured at the podium, disputes the official report of the 33-year-old’s death and Rev. Raymond Brown, president of the New Orleans National Action Now chapter, says he is attempting to involve federal officials in the local case.
Rev. Raymond Brown, president of National Action Now’s New Orleans division, a civil rights organization, said he traveled to Baldwin to “seek justice for this family.”
The conference was held in the softball park on Main Street just across from the Baldwin Police Station. Abraham, 33, died May 10 after being tased by a Baldwin police officer and died in a Lafayette hospital. The St. Mary Parish Coroner’s office issued a report that the death was due to “excited delirium” and cocaine use.
The family disputes that report.
Brown said he has contacted the United States Department of Justice, national NAACP, the national headquarters of the National Action Now and more regarding the Abraham case.
He accused officials involved in the case of creating a “cover up.” Brown said Abraham was a “healthy young man…to say that it was cocaine induced is a travesty of justice.”
Damon Abraham’s sister said the family is “not happy with the results of the report at all. We feel his death was not an accident, it was deliberate.”
She disputed the “excited delirium” description and cocaine use report and also called it a cover-up.
Abraham’s aunt said she witnessed the tasing incident and also disputed the official report of the incident.
She accused officers of also beating Abraham, saying the family saw bruises indicating the alleged beating on Abraham’s body.
Brown concluded that he does not believe state police or local officials will “deliver justice in this case” and that’s why he has contacted federal and other officials.
A rally is set for Saturday at 2 p.m. at the park in support of the Abraham family.
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