In the summer of 2020, a young man named Jamal Williams, a 22-year-old male and former football player for Western Michigan University, found himself in the midst of a mental health crisis. His family, concerned by his increasingly erratic behavior, sought professional help for him. This search for help led them to Community Hospital in Munster, Indiana, on June 16, 2020, a decision that would end in tragedy.
According to reports, Williams had exhibited troubling behavior in the days
leading up to his hospitalization. His parents said they drove him to the hospital directly from jail after an incident in Michigan where he had reportedly threatened a truck driver. They hoped the hospital would provide a safe environment for their son to stabilize. However, the family later stated that the hospital was not equipped to handle psychiatric patients but admitted him nonetheless. Williams was placed in a room on a kidney dialysis floor, a detail his family would later question.
During the early morning hours, the situation escalated. A nurse called for security after Williams allegedly became violent. Two security guards, both retired police officers named Ryan Askew and Benny Freeman, responded to the room. A physical altercation ensued, during which Williams, a man described as powerfully built, reportedly overpowered the guards and put Askew in a chokehold. In the chaotic moments that followed, Benny Freeman drew his weapon and fired.
The shots fired by Freeman had devastating consequences. One bullet struck Jamal Williams in the face, killing him. Tragically, another bullet hit Ryan Askew, who also died from his injuries. The incident was initially reported with conflicting details, with some early accounts suggesting Williams had disarmed an officer, a claim that was later refuted by prosecutors who confirmed Williams never touched a gun. The death of Jamal Williams was ruled a homicide.
In the wake of the double fatality, Jamal Williams's family voiced their anguish and anger, questioning the use of lethal force in a hospital setting and criticizing the facility for admitting their son when they were not equipped for his mental health needs. They contended that a medical team trained in de-escalation should have been summoned, not armed guards. Despite the family's calls for accountability, the security guard who fired the fatal shots, Benny Freeman, did not face any criminal charges in the deaths of Jamal Williams and Ryan Askew. An investigation into the incident was conducted, but ultimately, no charges were filed against him. The family retained a prominent civil rights attorney to seek justice for their son's death.
