A 37-year-old inmate at the Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola died over the weekend after what authorities describe as a violent confrontation inside the prison, and West Feliciana Parish deputies are now digging into whether force used during the incident contributed to his death.
Officials identified the man as Harold Brooks. They said he was taken to the prison infirmary, where he was pronounced dead. An autopsy has been ordered while investigators interview witnesses and comb through prison surveillance footage.
Sheriff opens use-of-force investigation
West Feliciana Parish Sheriff Brian Spillman confirmed that his office has launched an investigation and is "making sure no wrongdoing or foul play (was) involved," according to WBRZ. The station reported that sources said Brooks had been acting combative earlier in the day and may have been involved in an altercation with other inmates or staff.
Deputies are now taking statements and reviewing video from inside the prison as part of the use-of-force probe.
Officials describe struggle and medical response
Investigators told WAFB that detectives determined Brooks armed himself with a weapon and fought with corrections officers before he was subdued. He later died in the prison infirmary.
The Department of Corrections told WAFB that the death is under investigation and declined to provide further details. WAFB also reported that no correctional staff have been placed on leave at this time.
Camera review, autopsy and open questions
The sheriff's office says deputies are reviewing prison surveillance and interviewing witnesses while they wait for the coroner's autopsy to determine the exact cause of death, according to reporting by KPLC. Spillman said investigators are also checking whether any staff members were injured during the disturbance.
There is currently no public timeline for when the sheriff's office expects to wrap up its investigation.
Context: Angola under renewed scrutiny
The case lands as Angola and the state corrections system face fresh scrutiny over inmate safety. Earlier this month FOX 8 Live reported that several inmates were transferred from Elayn Hunt Correctional Center to Angola after a string of unexpected deaths.
The initial public notice about Brooks' death appeared on WVUE FOX 8 on Facebook, which included an attached OCR transcript naming Warden Darrel Vannoy, the longtime Angola warden who returned to the post in late 2024, as previously reported by WAFB.
Advocates and legal observers say that a transparent and timely release of the autopsy findings will be critical for public trust as the investigation moves forward.
