After a press conference this morning (May 1) with Baltimore authorities, the death of 25-year-old Freddie Gray has officially been ruled a homicide by the medical examiner and criminal charges will be filed against the six officers involved. Baltimore City state’s newly minted attorney, Marilyn Mosby, provided a detailed report from both the police force’s findings and their own independent investigation that occurred simultaneously.
According to her report, Gray’s arrest due to the possession of a knife was illegal and officers failed to establish probable cause. “The knife was not a switchblade, and it is lawful,” Mosby said. Additionally, Mosby said repeatedly that those officers abused Gray, held him against his will, denied him medical attention and did not put him in a seatbelt in the back of the van, which was said to be a violation of policy. This negligence is what led to the fatal spinal injury he sustained while in custody.
SEE ALSO: Freddie Gray: Everything You Should Know About His Arrest And Death
As a result, those six officers have faced several charges:
- Caesar R. Goodson Jr. was charged with second-degree murder, manslaughter, assault and misconduct in office
- Lt. Brian W. Rice was charged with manslaughter, assault, misconduct in office and false imprisonment
- Officer William G. Porter and Sgt. Alicia D. White were both charged with manslaughter, assault and misconduct in office
- Officers Edward M. Nero and Garrett E. Miller were both charged with assault, misconduct in office and false imprisonment
Warrants have been sent out for the officers’ arrest.
While her report was thorough and transparent, Mosby said that authorities are not at liberty to share the specific evidence that lead to the charges because confidentiality is necessary to move forward with due process of the law. “Evidence can not ethically be released to the public,” she said, condemning law officials from releasing this information.
Lastly, she made it known that the message behind Baltimore’s vigorous uprising has not gone unnoticed. “I heard your call for ‘no justice, no peace,'” she said. “Your peace is sincerely needed as I work to deliver justice on behalf of this young man.”
Watch footage of the press conference below.
Photo Credit: Getty Images