A CHANNEL 9 INVESTIGATION
INTO THE CARE OUR VETERANS ARE
GETTING FROM THE VA.
VIDEOS THAT WE OBTAINED SHOWS
HOW CARE WENT TRAGICALLY WRONG.
A HERO, THERE FOR HELP,
RESTRAINED AND CHOKED UNTIL HE
DIED.
THIS MAN WAS UNLAWFULLY
KILLED BY MEMBERS OF THE UNITED
STATES.
YOU ARE WATCHING EYEWITNESS
NEWS AT 6:00.
THIS IS NAVY VETERAN LUKE
SMITH.
THE 37-YEAR-OLD SERVED THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA FROM
1999-2004.
HE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A
SERVICE-RELATED MENTAL ILLNESS
AND HONORABLY DISCHARGED FROM
THE NAVY.
HE TURNED TO THE VA FOR CARE
BUT DIED AT THE HANDS OF THE
MEDICAL STAFF WHO WERE SUPPOSED
TO HELP HIM.
WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THE
STORY FOR WEEKS ON THIS
INVESTIGATION AND ALLISON, NOW
YOU HAVE VIDEO AND IT SHOULD
LEAD TO SOME MAJOR CALLS FOR
CHANGE.
THE INCIDENT THAT LED TO
SMITH'S DEATH WAS CAPTURED ON
CAMERA INSIDE OF THE VA
FACILITY IN COLUMBIA.
I NEED TO WARN YOU.
IT IS DIFFICULT TO WATCH.
WE HAVE TRIED TO BE EXTREMELY
SENSITIVE WITH WHAT WE SHOW YOU
TONIGHT BUT THE FAMILY AND
VETERANS ADVOCATES SAY THIS
REVEALS A BIGGER PROBLEM WITH
THE CARE OUR HEROES ARE
GETTING.
A NAVY AIR FLIGHT LAUNCHING
CAPTAIN, AIRPLANE MECHANIC, A
SON AND A BROTHER.
THIS IS THE 37-YEAR-OLD MAN
LUKE SMITH'S FAMILY REMEMBERS.
THEY DID NOT LOSE THEIR SON TO
SERVICE OVERSEAS.
HIS TRAGIC DEATH HAPPENED
SEPTEMBER 8th, 2017.
HERE, INSIDE OF THE WILLIAM
JENNINGS VA MEDICAL CENTER IN
COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA.
SMITH WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A
MENTAL ILLNESS THAT WAS RELATED
TO HIS MILITARY SERVICE.
AND WAS RECEIVING TREATMENT
NEAR CHARLESTON WHEN IMPENDING
HURRICANE IRMA FORCED HIM TO BE
EVACUATED TO COLUMBIA.
HE ENTERED A ROOM WITH OTHER
PATIENTS, SECONDS LATER, AN
ALTERCATION AND MEDICAL STAFF
RUSH IN.
TWO MEN IMMEDIATELY TACKLED
SMITH TO THE GROUND.
ONE PUTTING HIM IN A HEADLOCK.
SO, HE IS PRESSED FLAT ON
THIS FLOOR WITH SOMEONE WHO HAS
THEIR ARM AROUND HIS THROAT,
PRESSING ON HIM AND HE HAS
ANOTHER PERSON THAT IS PRESSING
HIS BELLY INTO THE FLOOR WHICH
MEANS IT IS GOING UP INTO HIS
BODY CAVITY AND PRESSING ON HIS
DIAPHRAGM.
THAT IS HOW WE BREATHE.
Reporter: THIS ATTORNEY
REPRESENTS SMITH'S FAMILY.
HE TELLS ME THEY ARE DEVASTATED
AND OUTRAGED BY WHAT HAPPENED
NEXT.
THE VIDEO SHOWS VA EMPLOYEES
RESTRAINT SMITH AT 2:39 P.M.
NOW, OUT OF SENSITIVITY WE ARE
FREEZING THE VIDEO BECAUSE 10
MINUTES LATER, AT 2:49 P.M.
AN EMPLOYEE CHECKED FOR A PULSE
AND LESS THAN A MINUTE LETTER
THEY BEGAN CPR.
THE NAVY VETERAN DID NOT
SURVIVE.
THE CORONER'S REPORT LIST HIS
MANNER OF DEATH AS HOMICIDE.
NO ONE WAS EVER CHARGED?
NO ONE WAS CHARGED WITH A
CRIME.
NONE, 0, ZIP, A HOMICIDE AND NO
ONE WAS CHARGED.
SO WHO IS ACCOUNTABLE?
Reporter: SMITH'S FAMILY
FILED THIS CIVIL LAWSUIT
AGAINST THE UNITED STATES OVER
THEIR SON'S DEATH.
IT IS A HORRIFYING VIDEO TO
WATCH.
IT IS TRAGIC.
Reporter: JEREMY BUTLER SAY
NAVY VETERAN, TOO, AND CEO OF
THE VETERANS ORGANIZATION A
ROCK AND AFGHANISTAN VETERANS
OF AMERICA.
-- IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN
VETERANS OF AMERICA.
I AM ANGRY.
THEY TURNED TO THE GROUP THAT
IS SUPPOSED TO TAKE CARE OF
VETERANS, THE VA.
THAT IS WHERE ALL OF OUR
VETERANS SHOULD FEEL SAFE IN
TURNING TO FOR HEALTH.
Reporter: SMITH'S DEATH IS
A HORRIFIC EXAMPLE OF THE LACK
OF MENTAL HEALTH CARE.
WE ARE ALREADY AT 20 A DAY
DYING BY SUED.
WE HAVE A HUGELY UNMET MENTAL
CRISIS GOING ON IN THE VETERANS
COMMUNITY AND THE COMMUNITY AT
LARGE.
THERE MUST BE CHANGE SO OUR
COUNTRY'S HEROES ARE TREATED
WITH HONOR.
WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO
WORK WITH THE VA AND CONGRESS
AND OTHER VETERAN SERVICES.
Reporter: I REACHED OUT TO
THE VA AND THEY SAID THEY DO
NOT COMMENT ON BENDING
LITIGATION.
THEY TOLD ME THOUSANDS OF
VETERANS CHOOSE TO BE TREATED
AT THE COLUMBIA VA HEALTH CARE
SYSTEM.
IN ADDITION TO OPERATING ONE
EVER THE LARGEST AND MOST
COMPLEX FACILITIES IN THE
NATION, THE FACILITY MAINTAINS
COMBINED IN PATIENT AND OUT
PATIENT QUALITY STANDARDS THAT
ARE IN THE TOP 15% OF THE
NATION.
WELL, A MANNER OF DEATH WAS
RULED HOMICIDE.
THE VIDEO IS EVIDENCE.
NO ONE HAS OPINION CHARGED?
NO, I AM TRYING TO FIGURE
OUT WHY.
I REACHED OUT TO THE
SOLICITOR'S OFFICE.
THEY COULD NOT ANSWER MY
QUESTIONS TODAY BECAUSE OF
STAFF QUESTIONS.
I REACHED BACK OUT TO THE VA.
I WILL KEEP YOU POSTED.
I KNOW YOU WILL KEEP
PUSHING, THANK YOU.
THEY ARE PUSHING CONGRESS
TO PASS THE COMMANDER JOHN
SCOTT HANNON.
IT WILL IMPROVE BEST COOLS THE
SYSTEM.
THEY PASSED AN ACT TWO
YEARS AGO TO MAKE IT EASIER TO
FIRE EMPLOYEES AND IMPROVE
HEALTH CARE.
TOM TILLIS SAYS HIS OFFICE IS
STILL COMMITTED TO DOING THAT.
WE WANT TO MAKE IT VERY
CLEAR THAT ANYBODY IN THE VA IF
THEY SEE SOMETHING THEY THINK
IS UNACCEPTABLE THEY CAN REPORT
IT AND HAVE PROTECTIONS.
OUR NATION'S VETERANS TACKLE
SIMILAR ISSUES EVERY SINGLE
DAY.
THAT IS WHY WE WANT TO SHOW YOU
THIS INFORMATION AS WELL.
THIS IS THE NUMBER TO CALL FOR
THE MILITARY CRISIS HOT LINE.
1-800-273-8255.