Review Ongoing of Dauphin County Prison Inmate Who Died at Hospital after Medical Event

A Delaware man died last week after being hospitalized following a medical event days earlier at Dauphin County Prison.

Following an autopsy Tuesday, Ishmail Bilah Omar Thompson’s cause and manner of death was pending toxicology testing, according to Dauphin County Coroner Graham Hetrick’s office.

Thompson, 29, died on July 29 at UPMC Harrisburg hospital. He was transported there after a medical event at the prison on July 23.

Dauphin County District Attorney Fran Chardo’s Criminal Investigation Division is reviewing the death, as is procedure for in-custody deaths.

There were no signs of physical trauma on Thompson’s body.

Thompson was arrested on July 23 for an incident at a hotel in Lower Swatara Township. Charges indicate Thompson was walking nude around the hotel property and then assaulted a clerk inside the hotel.

Upon intake at Central Booking, more erratic behavior was observed, and Thompson was sent to a hospital for evaluation. He was cleared to be returned to Dauphin County Prison.

At the prison, Thompson became combative with staff and punched an officer in the eye. The officer was treated at a local hospital.

Later, at the prison, Thompson had a medical event prompting emergency medical response (CPR and an AED). Thompson was transported to UPMC Harrisburg.

Additional information will be released as the investigation advances.

MEDIA CONTACT: Brett Hambright, Press Secretary, 717-780-6311; bhambright@dauphinc.org.