White Family Turns To Crowdsourcing For Independent Autopsy

The family of a New Iberia man who died in police custody March 2 has turned to crowdsourcing to fund an independent autopsy.

As of March 28, the 20-day-old GoFundMe account #justiceforvic has raised $875 of its $15,000 goal.

New Iberia police maintain that Victor White III — while handcuffed in the back of a patrol car — produced a handgun and fatally shot himself at the back.

The initial press release from Louisiana State Police, who was first called upon by New Iberia Sheriff Louis Ackal to investigate the incident, stated officers responded to a fight on Lewis Street that Sunday evening around 11:20 p.m. Police allegedly found narcotics on White — it's unclear what kind or how much — and took him into custody.

Upon arriving at the police station, White allegedly became "uncooperative" before the shot was fired.

No information is being released as the investigation continues. White's family has hired Jena 6 attorney Carol Powell-Lexing, who told Vice there's video footage confirming White wasn't involved in the convenience store fight that brought police there in the first place.

Police in New Iberia were under scrutiny as recently as October when a YouTube video surfaced of an officer beating a handcuffed man.