HOUSTON – On Saturday, family and friends said their goodbyes to Robert Terry Jr., a man who died last month while in custody at the Harris County Jail.
A balloon release was held after Terry, who was also known as “Rico,” was laid to rest.
His younger brother, Joseph Terry, is heartbroken.
“We are Just going to keep continuing to the last breath in our body until it makes sense because, right now, there is no logic - sense - that they can put out to us and right now we can’t have no peace to go to sleep at all,” he said. “Every day I wake up I am missing him. I just mourn him. I just cannot believe it. I just know the love he had for everybody, it was needed out here and everybody could have used it.”
On May 13, Terry asked officers to be taken to the jail clinic before he was said to have collapsed. He was then transported to the hospital, where he died, according to officials.
His family said something is not right about his death.
“I just want to get justice for Rico. We are going to find out what happened. We are not going to stop until we find out what happened to him,” his father, Robert Terry Sr. said.
Earlier this week, the family’s attorney, Allie Booker, filed a lawsuit against Sheriff Ed Gonzalez, an unidentified officer, a doctor and president and CEO of the Harris Health System. The lawsuit alleges Terry’s constitutional rights were violated.
“We need direct answers,” Joseph said.
Terry’s aunt Christy said he is loved and missed and will never be forgotten.
“He wanted to spread joy. He wanted to see people happy and there is so many things about him,” she said.
READ MORE: Civil rights attorneys file lawsuit against Harris County Jail after recent inmate deaths
Terry is the sixth inmate to die in custody. His death is being investigated by the Texas Rangers.
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