Freddie Gray’s death has officially been ruled a homicide.
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Gray, who was arrested April 12th following a chase with police, suffered several spinal injuries while in police custody and died a week later. Gray’s death sparked Baltimore’s uprising, which gained national and international attention.
The medical examiner concluded that what specifically killed Gray was a single high-energy injury to his neck and spine, that most likely occurred when the police van decelerated.
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Police officers failed to use proper safety procedures, which resulted in the 25 year old’s death. Video footage shows Gray being placed inside the police van on his belly. The medical examiner assumes he may have gotten to his feet while inside, but only to be thrown up against a wall during an abrupt change of direction.
Because Gray was not belted in correctly but his wrists and ankles were shackled, he was “at risk for an unsupported fall during acceleration or deceleration of the van.” the medical examiner said.