REVEALED: BLM co-founder's cousin's death caused by enlarged heart, cocaine use after he ran from police pursuit following hit-and-run, was tasered

The Los Angeles County medical examiner-coroner announced on Friday that Black Lives Matter (BLM) co-founder Patrisse Cullors' cousin Keenan Anderson's death occurred due to the effects of an enlarged heart and cocaine use. 

"The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner determined the cause of death for 31-year-old Keenan Darnell Anderson as effects of cardiomyopathy (enlarged heart) and cocaine use (death determined hours after restraint and conducted energy device [CED] use); the manner of death is undetermined," the group announced in a news release. 

Anderson's family filed a $50 million lawsuit against the city of Los Angeles for wrongful death and civil rights violations. According to NPR, the family said they still plan to continue with the lawsuit after the findings were released. 

"An unarmed Black man, in obvious mental distress, was savagely attacked and repeatedly tased, in clear violation of LAPD policy by several trained officers," they claimed, adding that "the innocent life of a little five-year-old boy will be forever changed as a result."

Cullors responded to the report by saying, "My cousin was alive when he flagged the police. And after his interaction with the police, he was dead," she continued, "This idea that the coroner is unable to determine how he died is unacceptable. And to point to the substances and point to the enlarged heart and not to the tasers is very, very disturbing."

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said in a statement, “Keenan Anderson was a father, a son, a brother, a cousin, and an educator of young people. He was loved and he is missed." She added, "I remain committed to expanding the public safety system to include health professionals and to ensuring LAPD officers receive the best possible training to assist people in crisis."

“The coroner raises questions that still must be answered and I await the result of the investigation already underway. I know that in this time of pain it sometimes feels like there is no hope, but we must turn the pain into concrete, substantive change – and we will,” Bass concluded. 

Anderson died on January 3 after being tased by police as he was being arrested for allegedly committing felony hit & run and attempted auto theft. Toxicology reports showed that he had cocaine and cannabis in his system at the time. 

Police showed up to the 31-year-old running in the middle of the street and acting erratically after he caused a car accident. While being arrested he yelled, "They're trying to kill me," and "They're trying to George Floyd me."

Police used a Taser on Anderson, and his activist cousin later blamed the police for his death. "LAPD has killed three people this year," she said. "One of them is my family member. Keenan deserves to be alive right now, his child deserves to be raised by his father. Keenan we will fight for you and for all of our loved ones impacted by state violence."

BLM gained national attention after the death of George Floyd while in police custody, sparking riots in the summer of 2020. Cullors stepped down from the organization in May 2021 after a scandal emerged surrounding a $1.4 million California home she purchased in 2021.