28-05-2025
Major Crime Squad investigate the death of an Aboriginal man in custody following a shoplifting incident at Coles Alice Springs
Senator Lidia Thorpe has demanded answers after a 24-year old Aboriginal man, who lived with a disability under state guardianship, died in custody after a shoplifting incident at Coles in Alice Springs.
Police allege the man was 'placing items down the front of (his) clothing' before he was confronted by security guards about 1.10pm on Tuesday.
He was allegedly involved in an altercation with security when two police officers arrived and restrained him.
Assistant Commissioner Travis Wurst told media one of the security guards was assaulted, and two police officers who were in plain clothes at the time in the supermarket rendered assistance to the security guards.
'The male behaved rather aggressively and was placed onto the ground by those police officers, he was later identified as losing consciousness,' he said.
Police said in a statement the man stopped breathing and officers performed CPR until paramedics arrived.
He was rushed to the Alice Springs Hospital where he was pronounced dead shortly after 2.20pm.
Major Crime Squad detectives travelled to Alice Springs to investigate the man's death and police will prepare a report for the Coroner.
The assistant commissioner told ABC Alice Springs the man, known to police, was living in Alice Springs but had come from a remote community in Central Australia.
He said the man's family had been contacted by police.
There have been 593 Aboriginal deaths in custody since the Royal Commission handed down its report in 1991.
Senator Thorpe said this was not an isolated tragedy but a brutal pattern where Aboriginal people died at the hands of authorities.
'For decades, our people have called for an end to this violence — for justice, accountability, and care instead of cruelty. But still, our voices are ignored,' she said.
The senator said the 24-year old man lived with a disability and was hungry and needed care when the incident took place.
'My heart is with Warlpiri mob, the Yuendumu community, and all those grieving the shocking death in custody of a young Aboriginal man in Mparntwe yesterday, who died while being restrained by police inside a supermarket,' she said.
More to come.
