HOUSTON – The family of Kristopher McGregor, a former University of Houston football player who died in-custody at the Harris County jail last year, has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the county.
The lawsuit alleges McGregor died from untreated strep throat on Jan. 30, 2025, and that jail staff knew he was sick but ignored it and failed to give him access to medical care.
The lawsuit alleges jail staff knew McGregor was diagnosed with schizophrenia and was unable to advocate for himself.
“Kristopher’s preventable death is symptomatic of Harris County’s chronically inadequate health care system and persistent deliberate disregard of detainees’ serious medical needs,” the lawsuit states.
The lawsuit names Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez and the jail’s medical director, Dr. Naomi Lockett, as defendants.
“Kristopher’s mother brings this action to hold accountable persons and entities responsible for ignoring Kristopher’s needs and denying access to medical care. Kristopher’s suffering was needless, and his death was entirely preventable. He leaves behind a grieving family who will be forever changed by this tragic loss,” the lawsuit states.
Following the lawsuit’s filing, KPRC 2 reached out to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office who released the following statement:
“An autopsy determined Kristopher McGregor’s death was a natural result of septic complications associated with renal failure, with contributory causes of hypertensive cardiovascular disease and schizophrenia. We are unable to comment further on this pending litigation.”
Harris County Sheriff's Office