Mourners gather for vigil in Alice Springs after death of Warlpiri man in police custody
The family of a 24-year-old Warlpiri man who died in police custody in Alice Springs this week has called for mourners to gather "in solidarity" to pay their respects.
The 24-year-old from Yuendumu died on Tuesday after he was restrained by NT police officers following an altercation with a supermarket security guard.
NT police say the man was placing items down the front of his clothing at the Coles supermarket in Alice Springs, when he was confronted by security guards.
Two police officers in plain clothes were in the supermarket at the time and restrained the man.
One eye witness told the ABC the restraint "looked pretty violent".
"I think he may have swung at the security guard but I don't know if he actually hit him," another eye witness told the ABC.
"Then I saw a bald man in a grey hoodie come up behind him and wrapped his arms around his torso in like a bear hug.
"And then there was a bit of a tussle as he was trying to bring him to ground."
The man was taken to Alice Springs Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
An autopsy on Wednesday found the man's cause of death "undetermined".
NT Police Assistant Commissioner Travis Wurst has said that preliminary result would require "further investigation to provide any substantive cause of death".
The grandfather of the 24-year-old, Warlpiri elder Ned Hargraves, has helped organise the vigil.
"I am devastated by the death of my Jaja (grandson), another Warlpiri man who has had his life taken at the hands of the NT police," a statement posted on his behalf by the @justiceforwalker_ Instagram account.
"I will be going to pay my respects for my Jaja tomorrow at midday, at the location he was taken from us.
"Please join me in solidarity, to mourn, to remember him, and to give me strength."
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