December 27, 2021
Re: Statement on behalf of the Family of Cedric Lofton in Response to Release of Sedgwick County Autopsy Report
Today, the Chief Medical Examiner for Sedgwick County, Kansas, confirmed that Cedric Lofton’s death was a homicide.
According to the Medical Examiner, Cedric suffered “cardiopulmonary arrest … after a physical struggle while restrained in the prone position.”
This confirms our belief that Sedgwick County personnel at the Juvenile Intake and Assessment Center (JIAC) in Wichita killed Cedric.
As supported by the video evidence, these individuals unjustifiably and with excessive and unreasonable force pinned Cedric to the ground, ultimately killing the unarmed, 135-pound, 17-year-old African American teenager.
Cedric’s family anxiously awaits the findings of the criminal investigation and believes the Sedgwick County District Attorney should pursue criminal charges against the law enforcement personnel responsible for Cedric’s death.
Cedric’s death was caused by the hands of the very authorities that were obligated to protect him and make sure he was safe. Instead, they killed him with conscious disregard for the young life in their keeping.
This is a tragedy of epic proportions!
These senseless killings by authorities must stop! Cedric and his family deserved better.
Cedric’s family will not rest until they have secured justice for him. – Civil Rights Attorneys Steven Hart (312.955.0545) and Andrew M. Stroth (844.878.4529)