Mondo we Langa, formerly David Rice, died in prison shortly before midnight on March 11 at the Nebraska State Penitentiary, according to Andrew Nystrom, communications director for the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services. He was 68 years old.
Nystrom said the cause of death is unknown, but we Langa was being treated for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. He was diagnosed with this condition in 2013.
His death will be investigated.
We Langa was an active member of the Black Panther party in Omaha. He was sentenced to life in prison after being convicted in the 1970 bombing that killed Omaha Police Officer Larry Minard.
In the infamous Rice/Poindexter case, 17 people were arrested in connection to the bombing. One of them was Duane Peak.
Originally, Peak said David Rice and Edward Poindexter had no connection to the death of Minard. However, after being offered a deal with the police, he implied they were involved.
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Eventually, Peak's charges were reduced from first-degree murder to juvenile delinquency. However, Rice and Poindexter were convicted of murder.
We Langa denied all involvement with the bombing and tried to prove his innocence many times during his 44-year incarceration.