The family of Bay Area rapper Stephen Gaines, who went by the stage name Baba Zumbi as part of the group Zion I, is alleging that staff at a Berkeley hospital are responsible for his August death.
Gaines, 49, was a well-known local hip-hop musician who died at Alta Bates Summit Medical Center on Ashby Avenue on Aug. 13, 2021.
Initial reports cited that the rapper had asthma and was recovering from COVID-19 at the time of his death.
The cause of his death has been under investigation for the past several months, and according to a statement posted to Instagram on Wednesday by Gaines' mother, Carolyn Gaines, he did not die from COVID-19 or a heart attack.
The investigation is still ongoing, and an official cause has not yet been released.
Proceedings have been delayed by not having a complete coroner's report, Carolyn said Berkeley police told her. Berkeley Police Department Public Information Officer Byron White confirmed to KCBS Radio that "the case remains under investigation—pending information from the Coroner's office," he wrote in an email.
"I beg the officials to complete their official duties," wrote Carolyn in the Instagram post. "I pray that as soon as the Alameda County District Attorney reviews the evidence that they will prosecute Alta Bates, Allied Universal and their employees for killing my beautiful son."
An Alameda County DA's Office spokesperson said that the case has not yet been brought to them for review.
"We ask for your consideration and understanding as this process moves forward," the post continued. "There will be a time for thoughtful, peaceful and considered action from the community. For now, we seek your respect, support and understanding as we grieve and seek answers."
Gaines' lawyers and Sutter Health, which oversees Alta Bates, did not respond to KCBS Radio’s request for comment at the time of publication.
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