Body camera footage of Phoenix police killing a 43-year-old unarmed Black man, named Muhammad Muhaymin Jr., while mocking his Islamic faith was released on Thursday (Aug. 27). The occurrence stems from an incident that happened in 2017 over being told he couldn’t bring his service dog with him into a community center restroom.
Muhaymin’s family revealed that he was homeless and suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder, acute claustrophobia, and schizophrenia.
The chilling video lasts for approximately nine minutes. Muhaymin is seen being held down by several cops as they attempt to arrest him due to a warrant he had for missing a court date. One of those cops had their knee on his back and neck. At one point, Muhaymin can be heard saying “I can’t breath” and “Please, Allah” multiple times. Allah is the Arabic word for God.
“Allah? He’s not going to help you right now,” one of the officers can be heard saying while holding Muhaymin down. “Just relax.”
During his final moments, he’s seen vomiting before his body goes limp. One police officer was heard saying “I don’t feel a pulse,” followed by another cop replying, “Oh, he’s dead.”
The officers involved in Muhaymin’s death have been identified as Oswald Grenier, Jason Hobel, Ronaldo Canilao, David Head, Susan Heimbigner, Kevin McGowan, James Clark, Dennis Leroux, Ryan Nielsen and Steven Wong. They’re all still employed by the Phoenix Police Department and have not been charged.
The medical examiner’s office ruled Muhaymin’s death a homicide by cardiac arrest, citing “coronary artery disease, psychiatric disease, acute methamphetamine intoxication, and physical exertion during law enforcement subdual.” However, his family disagrees.
The Phoenix Police Department previously determined that the officers “did not commit any act that warrants criminal prosecution,” according to a review conducted by the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office.
A spokesperson for the Phoenix Police Department told Huffington Post that the officers “did not mock or target Mr. Muhaymin based on his religion, race, or any other factor.”
The Muhaymin family has filed suit against the city of Phoenix and is expected to go to trial early next year.
“The city of Phoenix and the Phoenix police targeted my brother for his race, they mocked him for his religion and disability, and then brutally killed him,” Mussallina Muhaymin, Muhaymin’s sister, said in a statement. “Muhammad Muhaymin Jr. was a man—a man with a family who loved him.”