Ten years after 29-year-old Black man Alonzo Ashley had a fatal encounter with #Denver Police at the @DenverZoo, his family, friends, and the greater community finally received some justice. Check out our video here--->🎥🎞️
Although no criminal charges were ever filed against anyone involved, on October 1, 2021, a water fountain and cooling station were unveiled near the spot where Ashley took his last breaths, and the Denver Zoo finally apologized for the tragedy. 
On July 18, 2011, Ashley was at the zoo with his girlfriend. The temperature that day was in the 90s, and by late afternoon, according to Ashley’s girlfriend, he was highly overheated and vomited.
He then walked over to a fountain to try and cool down, and a zoo staffer confronted him asking if he needed help. When Ashley declined help, the zoo staffer called zoo security and Denver Police.
Eight police officers arrived on the scene, and Ashley ended up face down, tased, he vomited twice more, and began convulsing. He stopped breathing before paramedics arrived.
The coroner’s report ruled Ashley’s death was caused by cardiorespiratory arrest brought on by heat, dehydration, and exertion during the struggle. Three days after Ashley died, then-Denver DA Mitch Morrissey published a statement “that no criminal charges will be filed."
During the unveiling Denver Zoo President and CEO Bert Vescolani offered an apology, which hadn’t happened from the zoo, yet: “I’d like to extend my deepest sympathies. Alonzo was here on a day and it turned out tragic, and we are really sorry for that.”
Watch our full video from the commemorative unveiling and learn more about #AlonzoAshley in our article--->📰unicornriot.ninja/2021/alonzo-as…
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