Lamar Harper Died After Being Arrested Inside Los Angeles Train in the Hollenbeck Area
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA (March 28, 2026) – A 31-year-old man identified as Lamar Harper has tragically died after being arrested by the Los Angeles Police Department by First Street and North Soto Street.
Los Angeles Police Department officials are saying the incident took place around 8:25 AM on December 31, 2025. Police received a call about a suspect who allegedly had a large kitchen knife and entered a metro rail station.
When police arrived at the scene, they encountered Lamar Harper. He was reportedly screaming and yelling before being subdued by officers. He was placed in handcuffs and subsequently transported into a hospital.
He was medically cleared at the hospital before he was booked. After being placed inside of a holding cell, correctional officers noticed that Lamar Harper was unresponsive.
He was transported to the Los Angeles General Medical Center and was placed on life support. Sadly, he was later pronounced deceased on January 5, 2026. A full investigation of the circumstances leading up to his death remains ongoing at this time.
Liability for Los Angeles County Inmate Deaths
When jails place a person in custody, certain constitutional standards will apply. Among other things, all inmates must be provided reasonably adequate medical care for their health conditions. This begins when an inmate first enters jail. They must receive a thorough health assessment and be medically cleared. There are many systemic factors in a jail setting that could potentially contribute to an inmate’s death.
- Overcrowding: A large number of jails across Los Angeles County are overcrowded. This can compromise the quality of care that all inmates receive.
- Understaffing: Jails have a high turnover rate. This can lead to situations where there are fewer and fewer people to monitor the well-being of inmates in their care.
- Culture: Many jails across Los Angeles have a culture of treating inmates with a lack of respect and care. There have been many instances where inmates have been harmed by the excessive force of officers.
In determining whether or not a jail could be liable for an inmate’s death, the small details matter. When a jail is deliberately indifferent to the serious medical needs of an inmate, this could form the basis of a constitutional claim. For example, correctional officers may have known that an inmate was in serious distress but still failed to get them the help and assistance that they required.
Steps to Take After Los Angeles County Inmate Deaths
Los Angeles County has a long and sordid history related to the treatment that inmates receive. According to the Vera Institute of Justice, “This year, 10 people have died in the custody of Los Angeles County jails. Since the start of 2023, a staggering 133 people have died in LA jails. These tragedies come almost five years after the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors committed to closing Men’s Central Jail and underscore the dire urgency with which the Board must finally act to stop this cycle of death.” Certain actions should be taken after any inmate dies in custody.
- All medical records related to the death should be sought.
- Body camera footage related to the person’s stay should be collected.
- Jail records related to the inmate’s stay should be reviewed.
- The family of any person who died in police custody should consider their legal options with a team experienced in civil rights law.
Many in-custody deaths are preventable and the results of multiple different failures. Part of the problem is the jails often outsource the medical care that inmates receive to third parties. These companies are routinely more focused on collecting as much profit as they can as opposed to delivering quality care that meets constitutional standards. The family of any inmate who died in custody may be able to seek some measure of accountability through a civil claim.
Investigating Los Angeles County Inmate Deaths
We at Carrazco Law extend our deepest condolences to the family of Lamar Harper. Any person who may have more information about what happened should reach out to investigators. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what went wrong. The number of deaths involving the Los Angeles Police Department remains deeply concerning.
Do you need more information about an inmate death in Los Angeles County? Our team of civil rights advocates is here for you. We are committed to helping victims of jail neglect get the information and support that they are entitled to under the law. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of support, we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (800) 541-3244.
