South Winston Salem News

Sens. Richard Burr (R-NC) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) said in a joint statement the video released reportedly showing actions that lead to the death of a Black man while in the custody at the Forsyth County detention Center was "deeply disturbing." 

“The footage released today is deeply disturbing. Our hearts go out to the Neville family, who deserve a full accounting of what happened and answers about John Neville’s tragic death," the Republican senators said in the statement Aug. 5. 

John Neville was being detained at the county jail when he reportedly had a medical emergency and would later die while at a hospital on Dec. 4, 2019, according to multiple reports. He was initially arrested for a misdemeanor assault charge. The video showed officers restraining Neville at times while he struggled and allegedly says "I can't breathe." 

The video is available for viewing on several news websites, including ABC11 News. 

"A tear came out of my eye as I heard him say, 'I can't breathe, I can't breathe, help me'," president of the Raleigh-Apex NAACP, Gerald Givens told ABC11 News. "People really need to understand that this is the time for us to have a discussion, not just about what happens at the police station but about how law enforcement officers interact with people of color from the beginning to the end."

The video showing Neville, the detention officers and nurse was ordered released by Forsyth County Superior Court Judge R. Gregory Horne, ABC11 reported on Aug. 5. The five correction officers and a nurse that were involved in his passing have been charged with involuntary manslaughter, WXII 12 reported on Aug .5.

"As this matter moves forward with appropriate due process, we want to thank Forsyth County Sheriff Bobby Kimbrough and District Attorney Jim O’Neill for their efforts to ensure accountability and justice," Burr and Tillis said in their joint statement. "These issues are not easy, but addressing them is a responsibility we all share."