24 Facts About Abner Louima

Abner Louima's injuries were so severe that he required three major surgeries.

In 2001, Louima received a settlement in his civil suit against the city for police brutality, the largest civil settlement at that time for such abuse.

Abner Louima has set up the Abner Louima Foundation to establish a hospital and community centers in Haiti, Florida, and New York for Haitian residents, immigrants, and others in need.

Abner Louima was born and grew up in Thomassin, a small community in Haiti.

Abner Louima immigrated to the United States in 1991, where he married and had one child.

Abner Louima had been trained as an electrical engineer in Haiti, but in New York, Louima was unable to get a position related to his education.

Abner Louima worked as a security guard in a water and sewage plant in the Flatlands area of Brooklyn.

Abner Louima was charged with disorderly conduct, obstructing government administration, and resisting arrest.

Later, Volpe admitted his accusation about Abner Louima being his assailant was a lie.

The beating continued later, culminating with Abner Louima being forcibly sodomized in a bathroom at the 70th Precinct station house in Brooklyn.

Abner Louima's teeth were badly damaged in the attack when the broom handle was jammed into his mouth.

Abner Louima testified that a second officer in the bathroom helped Volpe in the assault but could not positively identify him.

Abner Louima initially claimed that the officers involved in the attack called him a racial slur and shouted, "This is Giuliani-time" during the beating.

Abner Louima suffered severe internal damage to his colon and bladder in the attack, which required three major operations to repair.

Abner Louima was hospitalized for two months after the incident.

Reports of the incident and the severity of Abner Louima's injuries provoked national outrage.

Abner Louima won the 1998 Pulitzer Prize for distinguished commentary for this reporting.

Abner Louima was released to a halfway house in February 2007, and as of 2019 works in New York City as a carpenter.

Abner Louima was represented by attorney Sanford Rubenstein in a subsequent civil suit against the City of New York; this was settled for $8.75 million on July 30,2001, the largest police brutality settlement in New York City history.

In February 2003, Abner Louima visited his family still living in Haiti.

Abner Louima indicated he had plans to use his own money and donations to open community centers in Haiti, New York, and Florida for Haitians and others seeking legal, financial or other aid.

Abner Louima paid the school tuition for 14 poor children in Thomassin, the small community where he grew up.

Abner Louima owns homes in suburban Miami and Port-au-Prince, and several investment properties in Florida.

Abner Louima has since participated in anti-police brutality protests with Al Sharpton, notably over the shooting of Sean Bell in November 2006, and on August 9,2007, exactly 10 years after his attack.