Death of Natasha McKenna facts for kids

Natasha McKenna (January 9, 1978 – February 8, 2015) was an African-American woman who passed away at 37 years old while in police care in Fairfax County, Virginia. Her death happened after officers tried to move her from her cell. During this process, a stun gun was used while she was held securely. This event was recorded on video at the Fairfax County jail.

Officers were trying to move Natasha, who was resisting. They used a stun gun several times while she was held. No charges were filed against the officers involved. However, the situation led to a federal investigation into civil rights concerns.

Early Life and Health

When Natasha was around 12 or 14 years old, she was diagnosed with health challenges that affected her mind, like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Despite these challenges, a family photo shows she was an honors graduate from high school in Fairfax County.

Natasha also had a daughter, who was 7 years old at the time of her death.

What Happened

Natasha McKenna, who was 37, was being held at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center. She was there because of an earlier incident involving a police officer in Alexandria, Virginia.

Officials in Fairfax County had told Alexandria police to pick her up. But there was a delay, and Fairfax decided to transport her to Alexandria themselves. They noted that her mental health was getting worse. Alexandria could offer better support, including legal help for her mental health needs.

Because of the earlier incident, when Natasha was taken from her cell, she was held securely for safety reasons. This included her arms being held behind her back, her legs secured, and a special mask placed over her head. About 17 minutes into the 45-minute effort to move her, a stun gun was used several times. This happened because she would not bend her knees to get into a special wheeled chair used for transport. Natasha weighed about 130 pounds (59 kg) and was 5 feet 4 inches (1.63 m) tall.

A special team was trying to get her ready for transport to Alexandria because she was classified as having mental health needs. This team was called the Sheriff's Emergency Response Team ("SERT"). They wore special suits and masks.

Soon after the stun gun was used, Natasha's heart stopped, and she lost consciousness. Emergency workers helped her, and she was taken to Inova Fairfax Hospital. There, she was put on life support. After five days, doctors determined her brain had stopped working. She was then taken off life support and passed away on February 8, 2015.

See also

• Excited delirium
• Taser safety issues
• List of killings by law enforcement officers in the United States, February 2015
• Fairfax County Police Department
• Fairfax County Sheriff's Office
• Correctional Emergency Response Team