By RASHAD ROLLE

Tribune Staff Reporter

rrolle@tribunemedia.net

A 31-year-old Bahamian who died in Connecticut over the weekend was visiting relatives the week police shot him twice with a stun gun, according to international reports.

New details about Lashano J Gilbert were reported yesterday by an American newspaper as Connecticut police continue to investigate his death.

Mr Gilbert had been arrested over an attempted carjacking around 7pm Friday, but died early Saturday after police used a Taser on him following an extended struggle at police headquarters.

Reports say Mr Gilbert suffered a “medical condition” while being taken to a hospital and could not be revived.

The newspaper The Day Connecticut reported yesterday that Mr Gilbert arrived in New London, Connecticut, last week Thursday, surprising family members in that city who were not expecting him.

Mr Gilbert, who grew up in the Bahamas, is said to have graduated from a medical school in Cuba and was fluent in multiple languages. He was in the process of upgrading his medical license in Canada, according to the report.

Albertha Fletcher, his aunt with whom he stayed in Connecticut, was shocked by the details of his final hours.

According to the newspaper report, Mr Gilbert seemed “stressed” about his medical license, but did not have, to relatives’ knowledge, any criminal history, addictions, mental illnesses or other problems that they felt would result in the reported violent struggle he had with police.

Mr Gilbert’s family in Connecticut said they are trying to give police the benefit of the doubt, but remain sceptical about the reports over his death.

On Friday, Mr Gilbert jumped through the open window of a woman’s car as she was driving, NBC Connecticut reported.

It is claimed that when police responded to the woman’s 911 call, he “resisted arrest, telling them he was hearing voices while yelling and acting aggressively.”

He was Tasered during his arrest.

He was reportedly taken by ambulance to a local hospital for treatment before being taken to the police station.

According to NBC Connecticut, police said while he was in his holding cell, “he removed his pants and began twisting them, as if to make a rope.”

Police tried to take Gilbert’s pants away, however, officers claim that he then lunged at them.

“Gilbert then rushed the door and escaped into the common booking area where he threw objects, including an intoximeter, at officers. A struggle ensued before an officer used a Taser on him,” NBC Connecticut reported.

Gilbert was reportedly unresponsive as officers took him to a nearby hospital and died around 3:30am Saturday.