UPDATE: DOJ releases report of SCI inmate death

Delaware’s Department of Justice is speaking out on an inmate death, in the form of a report.

It’s been almost two years since Ronald Shoup died at the hands of Sussex County Correction officials. A formal autopsy report calling his death “homicide.” The DOJ already announced it would not bring criminal charges in the matter, on Tuesday, it released a rare formal report explaining the decision. The goal, for the public to understand why they reached their decision.

This report details the time Shoup was incarcerated, suffering from alcohol withdrawal symptoms. It describes his erratic behavior leading up to a “quick response team” subduing him. It’s during that time they say Shoup received multiple blunt force injuries, but the DOJ says it’s not just a matter of who or what caused the death, but whether or not a criminal act took place.

They say they could not prove that one did, therefore chose not to move forward with charges. The DOJ says “Although we find no basis for criminal charges against any of the individuals involved in the incident, the family does have other legal avenues through which to seek redress.”

A decision that has already been made by Shoup’s family and their lawyer. The lawyer sat down with 47 ABC on Monday, to discuss the lawsuit already in the works against the DOJ. No word on when that will officially be filed.