Stephen “Zumbi” Gaines, 49, died in August 2021 at Alta Bates hospital after being restrained by hospital staff and handcuffed by police.
BERKELEY — Police and prosecutors have determined the death of rapper Stephen “Baba Zumbi” Gaines of the Oakland hip-hop ground Zion I was not criminal in nature, despite a finding from the Alameda County coroner that he was killed after being restrained by Alta Bates hospital staff and handcuffed by police, this news organization has learned.
For months, Gaines’ family, loved ones, and fans have advocated for criminal charges against the involved staff, police officers, or both. None of the names of those involved have been released. Authorities have thus far refused to publish video of the incident, which the coroner’s report says captured the struggle that caused Gaines’ death.
“Both our office and Berkeley police reviewed the evidence in this case and concluded no criminal charges were to be filed,” Ruggiero said. According to the report, it all started Aug. 12, 2021, when Gaines checked himself into the hospital for a mental health examination after expressing a suicidal ideation, saying he suffered from extreme anxiety and “had not slept in a year.” Roughly three weeks earlier, he had reportedly contracted COVID-19.
Stephen Gaines’ career spanned 20 years and the recording of hundreds of songs, most of which were produced by his group Zion I, which featured him and producer Amp Live. The two met while attending college in Atlanta during the 1990s and released their first album together, Mind Over Matter, in 2000. For the next 18 years the group put out dozens of albums and mixtapes, including numerous songs that are considered Bay Area classics.
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