Freddie Gray's Autopsy Leaked
3 of the Findings:
Freddie Gray's autopsy found he <SPAN style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffff00">most likely died from sudden deceleration of police van</span> he was riding in.
Autopsy: <SPAN style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffff00">'Acts of omission' made Freddie Gray's death a homicide</span>.
<SPAN style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffff00">"High energy" injury</span>, like shallow-water diving accident, <SPAN style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffff00">killed Freddie Gray</span>, autopsy found.
Freddie Gray's autopsy found he <SPAN style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffff00">most likely died from sudden deceleration of police van</span> he was riding in.
Autopsy: <SPAN style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffff00">'Acts of omission' made Freddie Gray's death a homicide</span>.
<SPAN style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffff00">"High energy" injury</span>, like shallow-water diving accident, <SPAN style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffff00">killed Freddie Gray</span>, autopsy found.
Freddie Gray suffered a single "high-energy injury" — like those seen in shallow-water diving incidents — most likely caused when the police van in which he was riding suddenly decelerated, according to a copy of the autopsy report obtained by The Baltimore Sun..
The state medical examiner's office concluded that Gray's death could not be ruled an accident, and was instead a homicide, because officers failed to follow safety procedures "through acts of omission."
Though Gray was loaded into the van on his belly, the medical examiner surmised that he may have gotten to his feet and was thrown into the wall during an abrupt change in direction. He was not belted in, but his wrists and ankles were shackled, making him "at risk for an unsupported fall during acceleration or deceleration of the van."
The autopsy report was completed April 30, the day before State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby announced criminal charges against the officers. The autopsy has not been made public, and the deadline for releasing evidence in the case to defense lawyers is Friday. A copy of the autopsy was obtained and verified by sources who requested anonymity because of the high-profile nature of the case.
The autopsy report was completed April 30, the day before State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby announced criminal charges against the officers. The autopsy has not been made public, and the deadline for releasing evidence in the case to defense lawyers is Friday. A copy of the autopsy was obtained and verified by sources who requested anonymity because of the high-profile nature of the case.
While bystanders captured his arrest on video showing Gray moaning for help, the autopsy concluded that Gray suffered no injuries to suggest a neck hold or stemming from physical restraint. Assistant medical examiner Carol H. Allan noted that Gray could be seen bearing weight on his legs and speaking as he was loaded into the van.
Officers placed Gray on a metal bench running from front to back along the outside wall of the van. After the doors were closed, he could be heard yelling and banging, "causing the van to rock," the autopsy noted.
The van made several stops. The second stop occurred a few blocks away on Baker Street, where officers placed an identification band and leg restraints on Gray.
"Reportedly, Mr. Gray was still yelling and shaking the van," the medical examiner wrote. "He was removed from the van and placed on the ground in a kneeling position, facing the van doors, while ankle cuffs were placed, and then slid onto the floor of the van, belly down and head first, reportedly still verbally and physically active."
Authorities previously said the third stop in the area of Fremont and Mosher streets was captured on video, which showed the van driver, Goodson, getting out and looking in the back.
During a fourth stop, at Dolphin Street and Druid Hill Avenue, authorities said Goodson called for assistance, at which point Officer William Porter, one of the officers who has been charged with manslaughter, got involved.
"The assisting officer opened the doors and observed Mr. Gray lying belly down on the floor with his head facing the cabin compartment, and reportedly he was asking for help, saying he couldn't breathe, couldn't get up, and needed a medic," the autopsy says. "The officer assisted Mr. Gray to the bench and the van continued on its way."
The van made a fifth stop at North and Pennsylvania avenues to pick up a second arrestee, where Mosby has said Sgt. Alicia White helped check on Gray. "Mr. Gray was found kneeling on the floor, facing the front of the van and slumped over to his right against the bench, and reportedly appeared lethargic with minimal responses to direct questions," the report says.
The medical examiner concluded that Gray's most significant injury was to the lower left part of his head. Given the descriptions of his demeanor and positioning in the van, it most likely occurred after the second and before fourth stops made by the van driver, and possibly before the third stop, according to the autopsy.
While it's possible Gray was hurt while lying on the floor and moving back and forth, Allan determined his body likely couldn't have moved in that position with enough force to cause his injuries.
Allan surmised that Gray could have gotten to his feet using the bench and opposite wall. With his hands and ankles restrained, and unable to see out of the van and anticipate turns, she said he was at a high risk for an unsupported fall.
She also noted the possibility that Gray's neck injury occurred "with him in a partially reclining position or as he was changing his position on the floor of the van," if the van moved abruptly enough.
The injury to Gray's spinal cord would have caused loss of function of his limbs, and would have "direct effects" on his ability to breathe, according to the autopsy.
<SPAN style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffff00">Police had said</span> in a court filing that the second passenger reported hearing Gray banging and kicking through the metal divider before the fifth stop.
<SPAN style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffff00">Allan [the Medical Examiner said]</span> that would not have been possible given Gray's injuries, but he may have been suffering a seizure at the time, which could have caused the noise, she said.
The state medical examiner's office concluded that Gray's death could not be ruled an accident, and was instead a homicide, because officers failed to follow safety procedures "through acts of omission."
Though Gray was loaded into the van on his belly, the medical examiner surmised that he may have gotten to his feet and was thrown into the wall during an abrupt change in direction. He was not belted in, but his wrists and ankles were shackled, making him "at risk for an unsupported fall during acceleration or deceleration of the van."
The autopsy report was completed April 30, the day before State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby announced criminal charges against the officers. The autopsy has not been made public, and the deadline for releasing evidence in the case to defense lawyers is Friday. A copy of the autopsy was obtained and verified by sources who requested anonymity because of the high-profile nature of the case.
The autopsy report was completed April 30, the day before State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby announced criminal charges against the officers. The autopsy has not been made public, and the deadline for releasing evidence in the case to defense lawyers is Friday. A copy of the autopsy was obtained and verified by sources who requested anonymity because of the high-profile nature of the case.
While bystanders captured his arrest on video showing Gray moaning for help, the autopsy concluded that Gray suffered no injuries to suggest a neck hold or stemming from physical restraint. Assistant medical examiner Carol H. Allan noted that Gray could be seen bearing weight on his legs and speaking as he was loaded into the van.
Officers placed Gray on a metal bench running from front to back along the outside wall of the van. After the doors were closed, he could be heard yelling and banging, "causing the van to rock," the autopsy noted.
The van made several stops. The second stop occurred a few blocks away on Baker Street, where officers placed an identification band and leg restraints on Gray.
"Reportedly, Mr. Gray was still yelling and shaking the van," the medical examiner wrote. "He was removed from the van and placed on the ground in a kneeling position, facing the van doors, while ankle cuffs were placed, and then slid onto the floor of the van, belly down and head first, reportedly still verbally and physically active."
Authorities previously said the third stop in the area of Fremont and Mosher streets was captured on video, which showed the van driver, Goodson, getting out and looking in the back.
During a fourth stop, at Dolphin Street and Druid Hill Avenue, authorities said Goodson called for assistance, at which point Officer William Porter, one of the officers who has been charged with manslaughter, got involved.
"The assisting officer opened the doors and observed Mr. Gray lying belly down on the floor with his head facing the cabin compartment, and reportedly he was asking for help, saying he couldn't breathe, couldn't get up, and needed a medic," the autopsy says. "The officer assisted Mr. Gray to the bench and the van continued on its way."
The van made a fifth stop at North and Pennsylvania avenues to pick up a second arrestee, where Mosby has said Sgt. Alicia White helped check on Gray. "Mr. Gray was found kneeling on the floor, facing the front of the van and slumped over to his right against the bench, and reportedly appeared lethargic with minimal responses to direct questions," the report says.
The medical examiner concluded that Gray's most significant injury was to the lower left part of his head. Given the descriptions of his demeanor and positioning in the van, it most likely occurred after the second and before fourth stops made by the van driver, and possibly before the third stop, according to the autopsy.
While it's possible Gray was hurt while lying on the floor and moving back and forth, Allan determined his body likely couldn't have moved in that position with enough force to cause his injuries.
Allan surmised that Gray could have gotten to his feet using the bench and opposite wall. With his hands and ankles restrained, and unable to see out of the van and anticipate turns, she said he was at a high risk for an unsupported fall.
She also noted the possibility that Gray's neck injury occurred "with him in a partially reclining position or as he was changing his position on the floor of the van," if the van moved abruptly enough.
The injury to Gray's spinal cord would have caused loss of function of his limbs, and would have "direct effects" on his ability to breathe, according to the autopsy.
<SPAN style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffff00">Police had said</span> in a court filing that the second passenger reported hearing Gray banging and kicking through the metal divider before the fifth stop.
<SPAN style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffff00">Allan [the Medical Examiner said]</span> that would not have been possible given Gray's injuries, but he may have been suffering a seizure at the time, which could have caused the noise, she said.
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/ma...eddie-gray-autopsy-20150623-story.html#page=2
