Veteran killed by police in Louisiana had PTSD

Man who died after fight with police suffered from PTSD, brother says
KSLA News
By Emily Black
Posted: May 07, 2014

SHREVEPORT, LA (KSLA)
Jerome Christmas died Saturday after a struggle with Shreveport police, and while witnesses said he was acting wild before it happened, his brother knew a completely different person.

Witnesses say they saw Jerome Christmas go crazy, throwing things, getting undressed, talking to himself, and acting as though he was on fire. Christmas' brother Drake said his brother was a veteran who served his country, and suffered from PTSD.

Now he's left to explain the actions that ultimately led to his brother's death.

Drake said Jerome was being treated at the VA hospital for his PTSD. The events that led to his death started Saturday at the Shreveport Teen Challenge, a rehab center in the 1100 block of Highland Avenue.

Drake said Jerome was the reason he spent 24 years in the military.

"He coached and mentored me through everything," Drake said. "We lifted weights together, we worked out. He made all-state in football three years in a row, I made all-state in football two years in a row. Perfect example, perfect example of a brother you'd want to follow."
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