Video Leaked To Facebook Of Graphic Death Of LCCF Inmate

Surveillance video leaked to social media this week shows the intense struggle that resulted in the death of Shaheen Mackey at the Luzerne County Correctional facility — a fatality that resulted in a $3 million settlement with Luzerne County.

"During the 4 hours he was held (there), Shaheen Mackey had a seizure and called for medical help," a Facebook user who identified himself as Nieem Johnson wrote in posting the video.

The user did not immediately return a message seeking comment, but attorney Theron Solomon, who represented Mackey's estate in the lawsuit against the county, confirmed the video's authenticity.

"At no point did he resist, spit or fight back," the Facebook post continued. "While his hands was cuffed behind his back in the chair with a spit mask on his face and his feet shackled, the correctional officers shocked him with Tasers and not just held the spit mask on his face but choked him with it. This video is graphic and very disturbing to watch as Shaheen Mackey begs them to stop just before he takes his last breath."

The 23-minute long video begins with Mackey already strapped into a restraint chair wearing a spit mask, surrounded by at least nine correctional officers and nurses.

Officers repeatedly tell Mackey to calm down and comply, and early on urge him to "breathe."

"We're trying to help you," said a woman who appears to be a nurse.

Throughout the first several minutes of the video, Mackey can be seen straining and heard screaming and crying as correctional officers ask him what drugs he took.

"This mother (expletive). He's strong," one officer said. "I don't know what he's on. Probably meth. When they get pumped on meth they get power like this. Just make sure you control that other (expletive) hand."

Shortly after the eight-minute mark, the sound of Tasers firing can be heard.

"It's not even affecting him," on officer said. "It's doing nothing. He don't even feel it. There's no point in utilizing it."

A short time later, someone says, "Make sure he can breathe."

Eventually Mackey goes unresponsive and nurses administer Narcan, a drug that can revive drug overdose patients.

According to the lawsuit, Mackey was not under the influence of any drugs.

The nurses can then be seen checking Mackey for a pulse.

"I need CPR," one nurse said around the 12:50 mark.

Nurses and correctional officers initiated CPR while Mackey is still strapped to the restraint chair until an officer tells them Mackey needs to be removed.

Officers get him out of the chair around the 15:10 mark and continue performing CPR while Mackey lies on the floor until the video ends a little after the 23-minute mark.

Mackey, 41, of Berwick, died two days later. He was being held at the jail for an alleged violation of a protection-from-abuse order.

A lawsuit filed by the Dyller Law Firm in December 2019 alleged correctional officers failed to recognize Mackey was having a seizure.

“Instead of treating the situation as the medical emergency that it was, the correctional officers treated Mr. Mackey’s convulsions with more physical force,” said the complaint, which alleged they placed Mackey in a position that restricted his breathing before using Tasers on him “at least 20 more times."

In June, Luzerne County Council approved a $3 million settlement in the civil rights lawsuit with Mackey's estate.

The lawsuit against two healthcare providers — Correct Care Solutions, LLC, and Wellpath, LLC — is still pending. That portion of the suit alleges employees of the companies failed to properly document Mackey’s medical conditions and instead forged his intake paperwork.

The Luzerne County District Attorney’s Office cleared county correctional officers of any wrongdoing in Mackey’s death in November 2018. After council approved the multi-million dollar settlement, District Attorney Stefanie Salavantis said she stood by her decision and would not reconsider the outcome.