Crime & Safety
Video Shows NJ Man Pleading With Police For Help Before Dying
Jameek Lowery, 27, live streamed an encounter where he asked police for water and asked them not to shoot him.
PASSAIC COUNTY, NJ — Mystery surrounds the death of a Paterson man who posted a live video on Facebook where he begged police not to shoot him while walking around police headquarters before being taken to the hospital.
Jameek Lowery, 27, posted a video on Facebook Live Saturday morning of himself at Paterson Police Headquarters in which he said people were trying to kill him.
"Please don't shoot me. I'm just paranoid," Lowery said in the video. "I'm just paranoid. That's it."
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The video shows Lowery, a father of two, near the front desk asking for help, and for water, and saying that someone was trying to kill him.
"Somebody's over there trying to kill me," Lowery said in the video. "Please don't kill me officers. Somebody help me."
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Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia Valdes said Lowery may have taken ecstasy before he died. However, hospital toxicology reports show the father of two kids, ages 8 and 11 months, had not taken narcotics, NorthJersey.com reported.
The Bergen County Regional Medical Examiner's Office is conducting on autopsy on Lowery's body to determine the cause and manner of death.
A preliminary investigation showed that a 911 caller at 2:47 a.m. believed to be Lowery said he took Ecstasy and was paranoid, and he was taken to St. Joseph's University Medial Center, Valdes said. He became "erratic" at the hospital and left.
Lowery called 911 again about an hour later reporting that people were trying to kill him, Valdes said. He later went into Paterson Police Headquarters and was agitated. He called 911 again, she said.
Authorities placed him in an ambulance and police had to restrain him, according to the prosecutor. He was unresponsive when he got to the hospital, Valdes said. He was pronounced dead early Monday morning.
"I completely support a full investigation into Saturday evening’s events. In the meantime, I have expressed my condolences to the family of Mr. Lowery, who are suffering during this difficult time. I ask that all Patersonians share their prayers and condolences."
"WARNING: Video contains graphic material and explicit language."
Email: daniel.hubbard@patch.com
Image via YouTube screenshot
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