St. John’s, Antigua and Barbuda – July 25, 2026: The Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda has opened a formal inquiry into the death of 36-year-old Rashawn Shabazz, a prisoner who passed away at a local hospital two days after an altercation at His Majesty’s Prison.
According to official preliminary details, the incident unfolded on Thursday, July 23, when correctional officers moved to escort Shabazz to a pre-scheduled medical appointment. Instead of complying with the order, the inmate became confrontational and barricaded himself inside his cell, blocking access for staff.
Prison personnel first attempted to de-escalate the situation through peaceful negotiation, but all efforts to resolve the standoff without force failed. Following this breakdown, institutional authorities placed a formal request for additional support from local law enforcement.
Once on scene, law enforcement and correctional teams attempted to take Shabazz into custody to move him from the cell. Officials confirm the prisoner continued to resist detainment and made threats toward responding officers, prompting the use of non-lethal containment measures to secure the area and safely remove him from the locked cell.
Immediately after being taken into custody, Shabazz was transferred by emergency transport to the Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre, where clinical teams began urgent care immediately. Despite aggressive resuscitation efforts from the hospital’s medical staff, Shabazz was pronounced dead at 11:37 a.m. that same day.
In an official statement released through the force’s Office of Strategic Communications, the Police Administration extended its deepest condolences to Shabazz’s family and loved ones. Senior officials have given a formal reassurance that the investigation will be comprehensive, transparent, and conducted to the full standards of regional law enforcement protocol, leaving no aspect of the incident unexamined.