A family in the South Bay is demanding justice after one of their own was found dead while in custody in Santa Clara County’s Main Jail.

The sheriff’s office claims it was suicide but recent use of force incidents has some people raising some questions.

The family believes something else happened. A vigil was held for 22-year-old Isai Lopez.

Earlier Friday evening, dozens of people gathered at the steps of the Santa Clara County Main Jail to show their support for the family of Isai Lopez. They left candles, photos, and flowers in his memory.

Family, friends, and activists gathered Friday night in chants and prayer.

“The pain my family is feeling, I don’t want anyone to feel that pain,” sister Nalleily Escobedo said.

Escobedo is stunned by the news that Lopez was found dead in his cell.

“He had just talked to my mother, and he wanted to do his time, you know, and of course, he was in jail,” Escobedo said. “There was a reason he was in jail.”

According to the Santa Clara Sheriff’s Office, Lopez was found unresponsive and pronounced dead on Sunday night.

“He was found dead Sunday, but no one contacted us as soon as it happened,” Escobedo said.

Escobedo says the family found out about his death Monday night but says they were never notified by law enforcement.

“The system needs to be better in communicating with the families,” Escobedo said.

Authorities believe Lopez committed suicide, but his family doesn’t think so.

Lopez had only been in jail for about a month, serving time for an assault charge.

Lopez was living in a single-person cell at the time of his death.

The sheriff’s office and the district attorney are investigating this case.

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