The family of the man local police officials claim to have committed suicide after getting arrested and handcuffed in the back of a squad car is clamoring for an independent investigation of the case. In the initial reports of the Louisiana State Police, the deceased was said to have shot himself in the back. The coroner's report, however, revealed that the man was shot in the front under his right nipple. In addition, the man's face was swollen and bruised. With these allegations, the man's family and their lawyers are calling for the U.S. Department of Justice to assist in scrutinizing the discrepancies found in the case.   

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Prior to his death on March 3, Victor White III, 22, and a friend bought marijuana worth $10 at around 11 pm on March 2. After their purchase, both men stopped by Hop-In. Subsequently, two men got into a physical confrontation while White and his friend stood by and watched the fight. At roughly 11:30 p.m., authorities from the Iberia Parish Sheriff's Office arrived in response to a report regarding the gas station incident. Both White and his friend were then stopped by the officer and searched.

Police found marijuana and cocaine on White. The 22-year-old was then handcuffed with his arms behind his back and led to the back of the squad car. In a police statement obtained by NBC, White "was taken into custody, handcuffed behind his back, and transported to the Iberia Parish Sheriff's Office for processing." However, authorities claim that upon arriving at the Sheriff's Office, White became "uncooperative and refused to exit the deputy's patrol vehicle." Before the arresting officers managed to call for assistance, authorities claim that White took out a handgun and fatally shot himself in the back. In the report produced later on by the Iberia Parish Coroner Carl Ditch, however, White was indicated to have shot himself in the chest. Moreover, the coroner ruled White's death as suicide.

According to the letter signed by Ditch on March 3, he ruled the incident as suicide following his review of White's autopsy report, gunpowder residue test results, and scrutiny of the statements given by the responding police officers that night. "Based on Mr. White's statements to police officers immediately prior to discharge of the firearm, and combined with all other investigational facts, every other manner of death is ruled out and the manner of death in this matter is determined to be suicide," the coroner wrote. In a statement given to NBC this month, Ditch said that it was feasible for White to have shot himself on the chest "due to his body habitus". He claimed that White could have manipulated the gun due to his physique.

On Monday, Rev. Victor White II came forward to call on the U.S. Department to further investigate on what their lawyers claim to be a "highly suspicious" case. "There's no way they can convince me, no matter what they say," the grieving father said. "He had too much going for him. We had just spoken that morning. He was getting ready to buy a vehicle. He was also getting ready to move into his apartment. He had his girlfriend, his child. He was planning to get into school so he could better himself," he added. In addition, White's father pointed out the state of his son's face when they saw his body. "The left side of his face was swollen and looked distressed," the father described.

Upon seeking for an explanation for his son's state, the coroner said that no further information could be provided as the investigation is still ongoing. In an earlier report by the coroner, Ditch indicated that White had two abrasions on his left eye. At present, no comment has been released by the Louisiana State Police and the Iberia Parish Sheriff's Office.

The family's lawyers, Carol Powell Lexing and Benjamin Crump, sought the assistance of the federal government in proving that the 22-year-old could not have died due to a self-inflicted gunshot wound. "It's highly suspicious," Crump shared. "We have a terrible recent trend that is occurring across state lines that finds these 'Houdini handcuff' suicides while they are in the custody of police that defies all logic, all common sense," the lawyer added. Sources reveal that Crump also has in his client roster the family of Michael Brown and Trayvon Martin.

TagsVictor White III, U.S. Department of Justice, Louisiana, Hop-In, gunshot, Iberia Parish Sheriff, marijuana, cocaine, Carl Ditch, Rev. Victor White II, Carol Powell Lexing, Benjamin Crump, Houdini handcuff, michael brown, trayvoy martin