Khalid Shabazz Demands Answers and Accountability Following Son’s Death

Following Thursday’s “Justice for Rashawn” protest outside His Majesty’s Prison (1735) and the Ministry of Legal Affairs, Khalid Shabazz is continuing his push for answers over the death of his son, Rashawn Shabazz.

More than 50 people participated in the demonstration, while organisers said several others arrived after the protest had ended and expressed an interest in becoming involved in future action.

For Shabazz, however, the campaign goes beyond the demonstration. The grieving father says his fight is centred on justice, accountability and better treatment for people living with mental health conditions.

Rashawn died following an encounter with police while in state custody, leaving his family seeking a clear account of the circumstances surrounding his death.

His father remembers him as a loving, kind and helpful young man who had a special affection for children and regularly assisted people in his community. Shabazz said that is the side of his son he wants the public to remember as questions surrounding his death continue.

But he says his fight has also grown beyond his own family.

Shabazz believes too many families across Antigua and Barbuda are still waiting for answers about loved ones who have died or remain missing. He argues that authorities have a responsibility to provide those families with clear information and meaningful updates.

Mental health care has also become a major part of his campaign.

Shabazz said his son lived with a mental health condition and would sometimes stop taking his medication, resulting in episodes that required professional intervention, treatment and proper management.

According to him, magistrates had previously sought to ensure Rashawn received appropriate care through reports and court orders.

He said the late Magistrate Conliffe Clarke had ordered that Rashawn be housed at Clare Vue Psychiatric Hospital, but his son was eventually released amid concerns surrounding available space and long-term accommodation.

Shabazz believes his son’s experience highlights the need for significant improvements in the way people with mental health conditions are treated.

He is calling for appropriate facilities, trained professionals and compassionate staff, arguing that authorities must move beyond temporary responses and address longstanding shortcomings within the mental health system.

Meanwhile, the family continues to await official answers surrounding Rashawn’s death.

An inquest has begun and an autopsy was expected to follow, but Shabazz is also calling for an independent investigation into the circumstances that led to his son’s death.

He maintains that because Rashawn died while in state custody, his family deserves a process that is fair, transparent and capable of providing clear answers.

Shabazz also insists that public officials must be held accountable for carrying out the responsibilities entrusted to them and that there should be consequences when those duties are not properly fulfilled.

For the bereaved father, the campaign is no longer solely about Rashawn. He says it represents families across Antigua and Barbuda who continue to wait for answers, as well as those concerned about the treatment of vulnerable people by state institutions.

As investigations into Rashawn’s death continue, Shabazz says he remains committed to securing answers, justice and accountability for his son while pushing for changes he hopes will prevent another family from experiencing similar pain.

This article was adapted from original reporting by Sharon Simon, Antigua Observer by Newsco.