On the late afternoon of Tuesday, May 3, 2016, 25-year-old Jonathan Sorensen died after a confrontation inside the Kmart at Carlisle and Indian School NE in Albuquerque. Sorensen, a University of New Mexico student described as living with schizophrenia, was accused of shoplifting and became involved with three loss prevention employees who restrained him. An eyewitness reported two employees sat on Sorensen while he was face-down and handcuffed, a third held his legs, and Sorensen repeatedly cried for help and said he was sorry and scared. The restraint continued about 20 minutes before he was found unresponsive.

Initial media accounts suggested a possible medical episode, but friends, supporters and the eyewitness said the physical force caused his death. Kmart’s loss prevention policy at the time reportedly prohibited physical contact, a rule put in place after a prior lawsuit. Police opened an investigation; no arrests were announced and no charges were publicly reported. The official cause of death and whether the case reached the District Attorney were not made public.