Newly released video shows the moments that led to Jovontay Williams, 32, dying at the hands of police in Charlotte, NC on June 13, 2022. Jovontay even told cops he could not breathe, and one officer’s careless reply was, “Yes you can”. Jovontay is a former Johnson C. Smith University football player, he even had an NFL try out.
A bullet round struck the front portion of a residence. Two people reported that a man was at their residences yelling and banging on the doors. Officers arrived on scene and located shell casings and Jovontay.
Jovontay was acting erratically, exhibiting stress, and signs of delirium. Officers contacted medics and then apprehended Jovontay by physical restraint on a civilian’s back porch. At the scene officers recovered a firearm and drug paraphernalia.
Jovontay was in handcuffs, and tells cops repeatedly that he can not breathe. A officer without concern responds, “Yes you can.”
Jovontay even says, you cops are dead wrong, if I die, it is on you. Jovontay also says that he is about to die and is seeing double.
It took paramedics 22 minutes to arrive on scene. Cops had Jovontay face down on the ground for an extended period of time.
At some point, cops made the decision to turn Jovontay on his side so he could breathe better.
Paramedics arrived on scene and said that the officers needed to take Jovontay out of handcuffs, because he can not be medically treated with the cuffs on.
The paramedic said that Jovontay had many secretions in his airways, which confirms Jovontay’s assertions of not being able to breathe.
Jovontay was subsequently transported by medics to Atrium Hospital in life threatening condition. Jovontay was later moved to a second hospital for more intensive care.
On June 13, 2022, at around 10 a.m., Jovontay was pronounced deceased while in the care of hospital staff at the second hospital.
Although Jovontay died while in the care of medical staff, he was still under arrest and law enforcement personnel were also present. Therefore, this incident is classified as an police in custody death.
The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (NCSBI) completed an investigation of this incident. Their results were turned over to the Mecklenburg County District Attorney’s Office.
The District Attorney’s Office found no evidence of criminal violations by officers related to this incident. Police Internal Affairs also conducted a parallel investigation and concluded that there were no violations of police department policy, clearing the officers of any wrongdoing.
The full medical examiner’s report and toxicology report are still pending.
Jovontay was an All Defensive Football Player of the Year for 2 consecutive years at Johnson C. Smith University. In 2015, he tried out for the Carolina Panthers, but he was not selected in the draft or never made the final roster for an NFL team.
