Aspiring rapper who died in police custody described as “brilliant and creative”
Young Vo, also known as Irvo Otieno, was a talented rapper with aspirations of starting his own record label. At just 28 years old, Otieno had a passion for writing songs and could do so in under five minutes, according to his mother, Caroline Ouko. Unfortunately, Otieno suffered from a mental illness that required medication, and on March 6, he was smothered to death at Central State Hospital in Virginia. Seven Henrico County sheriff’s deputies and three hospital security guards have been charged with second-degree murder in Otieno’s death. His family is demanding answers, including why no one intervened to prevent his death.
Ouko remembers her son as a brilliant and creative individual who cared deeply about people and always stood up for what was right. He had a big heart and often invited classmates who were eating lunch alone to join him, showing kindness to those around him. Otieno’s family has viewed the video footage of his death, which shows that he was held on the ground in handcuffs and leg irons for 12 minutes before being smothered.
His family is devastated by the loss of their beloved son and brother, and they are demanding justice for his death. They want to raise awareness about how to treat those with mental illnesses and hope that others will feel confident in calling for help when their loved ones are in crisis. Despite the tragic circumstances surrounding his death, Otieno’s family wants people to remember him for his music and the goodness that he brought to the world.
