Baltimore D.A. Announces Freddie Gray’s Death Was a Homicide; 6 Officers Charged
The State's Attorney in Baltimore, Marilyn Mosby, announced on Friday morning that the coroner's office had ruled the death of Freddie Gray a homicide. Gray died while in police custody on April 19, setting off a wave of protests and violence in the city that lasted several days, garnering national attention.
The announcement came as a surprise to many in the city. Mosby described the events of that night, from an initial confrontation between Gray and several bicycle-riding officers, to Gray's attempt to flee arrest to his eventual surrender. Mosby made clear that Gray had not broken any laws, that he should not have been arrested at all, even though he did have a knife. “The knife was not a switchblade, and it is lawful,” Mosby said, adding that the officers had “failed to establish probable cause for an arrest.”
Gray was soon placed in a police van, but he was not properly secured, a violation of department policy. While being transported, Gray's spinal cord was severed, leading to his death.
Via the Baltimore Sun, here are the officers and what they have been charged with:
- Officer Caesar Goodson Jr., 45, who was the driver of a police van that carried Gray through the streets of Baltimore, was charged with second-degree murder, manslaughter, second-degree assault, two vehicular manslaughter charges and misconduct in office.
- Officer William Porter, 25, was charged with involuntary manslaughter, second-degree assault and misconduct in office.
- Lt. Brian Rice, 41, was charged with involuntary manslaughter, second-degree assault and misconduct in office.
- Sgt. Alicia White, 30, was charged with involuntary manslaughter, second-degree assault and misconduct in office.
- Officer Edward Nero, 29, was charged with second-degree assault and misconduct in office.
- Officer Garrett Miller, 26, was charged with second-degree assault, misconduct in office and false imprisonment.