Christopher Howell Wiki – Biography
Christopher Howell, a Florida man who was in prison after stealing four phone chargers from a Target, was beaten to death by a guard named Michael Raymond Riley Jr., according to State Representative Dianne Hart.
The Miami Herald reports that he was in prison for stealing four phone chargers from a Target in West Palm Beach. The Herald reports that Howell was due to be released in June 2022.
The Herald article says that Howell stole a folding knife from a West Palm Beach Home Depot, which was worth $8. From there, Howell went to Target where he stole four phone chargers. When a security guard confronted Howell, the suspect gave back two of the chargers. The security officer asked for the other two to which Howell said, “I have a knife, man.” Howell pointed the knife at the officer.
Howell was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the incident. The Herald reports that Howell is listed as being “disabled” and as having a “juvenile disposition” on his criminal affidavit. An inmate told the Herald that Howell was a “good kid,” and a “chubby dude” with the “mind of a 10-year-old boy.” The article also says that Howell “is not someone who could defend himself.”
The Florida Department of Corrections website says that 30 inmates have died in the prison since 2014. Two of those, Danny Harrigan, and Joseph Rairick, occurred in 2020. Rairick’s cause of death is still pending. Harrigan died of natural causes, reports The Palm Beach Post.
Christopher Howell Age
Christopher Howell was 51 years old.
Health Condition
Howell was beaten while his hands were handcuffed, according to the Miami Herald. The newspaper cites an inmate and a prison officer as saying that Howell was beaten for “refusing a command” from an officer. The Herald reports that two officers watch the beating but did nothing to stop it. The Herald report, citing sources, says Howell suffered a broken neck.
According to Howell’s page on the Florida Department of Corrections website, he is listed as being deceased. Howell was sentenced to four years in prison in January 2019 after being guilty of robbery with a gun or deadly weapon. The incident occurred in September 2018.
Cause of Death
Howell, who died on June 19, was 51 years old. Hart added that she “understands” that there is a video of the incident which should lead to the firing of Riley. The statement finishes with the words, “Mr. Riley has been employed with FDC for just a year and was removed from another department because of his behavior.” The case is being investigated by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
Hart said in a statement that the incident occurred at the Lake Correctional Institution in Clermont, Florida, 30 miles west of Orlando on June 18. The statement said that Howell was taken to a local hospital where he died the following day. The statement continues saying, “The community is calling for the arrest does not take place by Monday, June 22, 2020,” a protest will take place outside of the state attorney’s office in Tavares, Florida.