3 More People Named In Wrongful Death Lawsuit After Man Died In Texas Jail

Three more people have been named in a federal lawsuit filed by the family of a Black man who died in a Texas jail earlier this year.

The lawsuit alleges that 31-year-old Anthony Johnson Jr. “is no longer alive due to the inhumane treatment, lack of compassion, egregious and unconscionable actions, inexcusable, neglect and cowardice acts of multiple jailers at the Tarrant County Jail.”

The suit initially named deputies Rafael Moreno and Joe Garcia; both men were charged with murder in June and subsequently fired from the sheriff’s office. In an amended suit filed Sunday night, Johnson’s family also names deputies JaQuavious Simmons, Elijah Marez and Johnathan Nymoen. The lawsuit also lists “John Doe Jailers 1-10” as defendants.

The Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office did not respond to HuffPost’s request for comment on the amended lawsuit.

On April 21, Johnson, a former Marine, died in custody at the Tarrant County Jail after Moreno kneeled on his back during a routine contraband check.

Surveillance footage from the incident shows deputies surrounding Johnson as they pull him to the ground during a struggle. A phone video recording released by the sheriff’s office shows Moreno kneeling on Johnson’s back as Johnson shouts that he can’t breathe.

“Johnson was held down by Defendants Simmons, Marez, Nymoen and the John Doe jailers, as Moreno used bodyweight force on Johnson to end his life. At no time did Defendant Garcia attempt to intervene although he was in a position to do so,” the lawsuit alleges.

The lawsuit also says Simmons “unjustifiably” sprayed pepper spray directly into Johnson’s mouth.

Simmons, Marez and Nymoen are also accused of punching and kicking Johnson multiple times. The jailers had opportunities to