Tasered cousin of BLM founder died from enlarged heart and cocaine

Jun 03, 2023

A man who was repeatedly tasered by police in Los Angeles died from an enlarged heart and cocaine use, a coroner has said.

Keenan Darnell Anderson – cousin of a Black Lives Matter co-founder – was stopped after a traffic collision on 3 January, with bodycam showing him initially complying with police before running away.

He was repeatedly tasered after being caught and died after going into cardiac arrest in hospital.

Los Angeles coroner said he died of the “effects of cardiomyopathy (enlarged heart) and cocaine use”, adding that the death was “determined hours after restraint and conducted energy device use”.

Mr Anderson’s family has yet to comment.

“I know the release of this report will cause them and many Angelenos great pain as they still mourn this loss,” said Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass.

“The coroner raises questions that still must be answered, and I await the result of the investigation already underway.”

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Arrest footage showed an officer on a motorcycle pursuing Mr Anderson, catching up with him and ordering him to lie on the ground.

Other officers arrived and struggled to restrain the 31-year-old high school English teacher before he was tasered in the Venice area of the city.

Footage shows Mr Anderson screaming for help and repeatedly shouting that the police were “trying to kill” him.

When an officer had his arm across his throat, he could be heard yelling that police were trying to “George Floyd” him, then accusing them of being “actors”.

BLM co-founder Patrisse Cullors said on Instagram after his death that her cousin was “killed by the LAPD”.

She added: “Keenan deserves to be alive right now, his child deserves to be raised by his father. Keenan we will fight for you and for all of our loved ones impacted by state violence.”

At the time, supporters of the movement protested outside the LAPD headquarters.

Mr Anderson worked in Washington DC and was visiting family in the city.

His family has filed a $50m (£40.1m) legal claim with the city, alleging officers unreasonably used deadly force, failed to follow training and filed false reports.

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