Father Demands Answers as Rashawn Shabazz Autopsy Remains Pending Months After Prison Death

The family of Rashawn Shabazz is growing increasingly frustrated as they continue to wait for an overseas pathologist to examine his body, more than two months after his death following an incident at His Majesty’s Prison. Rashawn died in July after an attempt was made to remove him from his prison cell so that he could attend a scheduled medical appointment. According to reports surrounding the incident, Rashawn refused to leave the cell. After prison officers were unable to get him out, assistance was requested from the police and tear gas was used during the extraction effort. Rashawn was subsequently discovered unresponsive inside the cell. He was taken to hospital but was later pronounced dead. His father, Khalid Shabazz, recently spoke about the family's ongoing wait during an appearance on Observer AM, saying that despite the passage of time, there is still no confirmed date for an autopsy. A coroner’s inquest has been announced to examine the circumstances surrounding Rashawn’s death, but his father says the family is still waiting for one of the most important steps in the process — the examination of his son's body. Shabazz said the investigator assigned to the matter informed him that a pathologist from overseas, believed to be based in Canada, is expected to travel to Antigua to conduct the examination. However, no definite arrival date has been provided. The continued uncertainty has left Shabazz questioning why the process is taking so long. He said he understands that arrangements may require communication between the coroner and the Attorney General, but believes the family is once again being caught in administrative delays. “We’re still dealing with these bottlenecks and these stall tactics. They’re thinking that we’re probably going to go away, but rest assured that we’re not going to go away,” Shabazz said. He also expressed concern about the length of time his son's body has remained in storage while the family waits for the overseas specialist. Shabazz said relatives want the examination completed as quickly as possible so they can move forward while also obtaining answers about exactly what happened to Rashawn. According to the father, authorities have repeatedly indicated that a pathologist is expected to arrive, but the family has yet to receive anything concrete about when the specialist will reach Antigua or when the examination will actually take place. “We have not received any definitive answers as it relates to when this autopsy would take place or when this pathologist would make his way to Antigua,” he said. With no clear timetable in place, Shabazz said the family may now have to seek assistance from attorneys in an effort to push the process forward. He said legal intervention could become the next step if it helps obtain clearer information and encourages those responsible for arranging the examination to act more quickly. The father has also disclosed that Rashawn experienced mental health challenges before his death. He said he had previously attempted to secure appropriate help for his son but those efforts were unsuccessful. For the Shabazz family, the unanswered questions now extend beyond the circumstances of Rashawn's death to the prolonged wait for the examination that could provide important information about what happened. As the family awaits the overseas pathologist and the eventual coroner’s inquest, Khalid Shabazz has made it clear that they intend to continue pressing for answers.