2015/11/07

Friends say Alonzo Smith was meant to do great things in life.

The 27-year-old was a published author of the book of poems that he had written between the age of 14 and 22.

Unfortunately, the Washington man had his life cut short after he died in custody of private police officers.

The African-American man was found handcuffed in an apartment complex when D.C. police responded to a call of “assault in progress” on the early hours of Sunday morning.

They found Smith unresponsive and not breathing. One officer performed CPR, but the victim did not respond.

So the officers took him to a hospital where he died one hour later.

Special police officers are members of law enforcement who are licensed by the District of Columbia, and are approved by the city police.

Smith was being held by armed security officers patrolling an apartment complex in Southeast D.C. on the weekend.

They have offered no explanation as to what happened to him.

He was unarmed and a witness claims hearing him run down the hall yelling “Help! Help! They’re going to kill me!”

His family attorney says Smith was beaten before he fell unconscious.

He was the teacher at Accontink Academy Learning Center, an alternative school in Springfield, Virginia.

D.C. police want to make sure the public understands that Smith was already unconscious when they arrived at the scene.

His grieving family is coming to terms with the loss.

They say he was a doting father, a dedicated teacher for children with special needs and a profound writer.

An investigation has commenced and the possibility of excessive force is not being ruled out.

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