On April 25, 2022, police in Indianapolis were dispatched to a 911 call for medical help. When they arrived, they found Herman Whitfield III in the throes of a mental health crisis inside his parents’ home. Rather than calling for an ambulance or medical professionals, police with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department tased, tackled, handcuffed and suffocated the 39-year-old musical prodigy, killing him.
After years of delays, a five-day criminal trial ended on Friday, Dec. 6,2024, with a not guilty verdict for two of the officers, Steven Sanchez and Adam Ahmad, who were both charged with manslaughter, reckless homicide, and battery for Herman III’s death.
In the years leading up to the trial, several volunteer organizers with the Justice for Herman Whitfield III Campaign spoke to Unicorn Riot about Herman III and his in-custody death. Watch our video report, including excerpts from our interviews and see the full pre-trial report: Indianapolis Police on Trial for Tasing, Suffocating Musical Prodigy to Death.
