On Monday, September 22, 2025, at approximately 9:33 a.m., Lafayette Police responded to a 911 call reporting a domestic battery in progress in the 1000 block of South 4th Street. Upon arrival, officers saw the suspect, Lennis Mitchell, 36, flee on foot. He was located a few blocks away on the porch of a nearby residence. After he failed to comply with verbal commands, officers used the minimally necessary force to take Mitchell into custody. The investigation revealed that Mitchell and the victim had been in a domestic relationship. According to witness statements, Mitchell forced his way into the victim's home as she attempted to close the back door. He then shoved her out the front door, where he dragged her by her hair off the porch and into the yard, where witnesses observed Mitchell actively battering the victim, Preshous Thomas-Walls, 36. Based on this information and evidence, Mitchell was arrested for Domestic Battery, Confinement Residential Entry and 35-44.1-3-1(a)(3)/MA: Resisting Law Enforcement def. knowingly or intentionally flees from law enfo While in custody, Mitchell complained of difficulty breathing and admitted to using marijuana. Following department policy, an officer began transporting him to an area hospital for a medical evaluation. During transport, Mitchell became unresponsive. The officer immediately stopped, removed him from the vehicle, and administered first aid until medical personnel arrived. Mitchell was transported by ambulance to the hospital, where he was admitted in critical but stable condition. His prognosis later changed as his condition worsened, and he died six days after being admitted. This is an ongoing investigation with the Lafayette Police Department and the Tippecanoe County Coroner’s Office. on 9/28/2025. Lennis Mitchell reportedly experienced a medical emergency shortly after being taken into custody by LPD on 9/22/2025 and was transported to Franciscan East Hospital, where he was declared deceased on 9/28/2025. A forensic autopsy will be performed on 9/30/2025. On Tuesday, September 30, 2025, a forensic autopsy was performed at the Tippecanoe County Coroner's Office on Lennis Mitchell. The preliminary autopsy results are: Lennis Mitchell: Preliminary Cause of Death: Pending Toxicology: Pending (Results can take up to 6-8 weeks) Preliminary Manner of Death: Pending Note: There is no evidence of foul play or significant trauma found at the forensic autopsy. This is an ongoing investigation with the Tippecanoe County Coroner's Office and the Lafayette Police Department. Our deepest sympathies and condolences go out to the family, and we hope they are respected during such a difficult time. Domestic Battery https://law.justia.com/codes/indiana/title-35/article-42/chapter-2/section-35-42-2-1-3/ Residential Entry https://law.justia.com/codes/indiana/title-35/article-43/chapter-2/section-35-43-2-Resisting Law Enforcement https://law.justia.com/codes/indiana/title-35/article-44-1/chapter-3/section-35-44-1-3-1/ Confinement https://law.justia.com/codes/indiana/title-35/article-42/chapter-3/section-35-42-3-3/