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The Department of Justice has kicked off an investigation of Baltimore police after a black man they
took into custody subsequently suffered a severed spine and died.
Freddie Gray, 25, died Sunday from injuries he received after struggling with police 10 days ago. An autopsy specified Gray’s death was due to a severe spinal-cord injury, CNN reported.
Gray’s arrest, in part captured on police video camera, has caused widespread outrage.
William Murphy Jr., an attorney for Gray’s family, described the circumstances surrounding his arrest in a previous statement: “On [April 10] about 8 a.m., the police chased Freddie Gray, a 25-year-old healthy man, without any evidence he had committed a crime. His take-down and arrest without probable cause occurred under a police video camera, which taped everything including the police dragging and throwing Freddie into a police vehicle while he screamed in pain.”
Gray subsequently fell into a coma, underwent surgery and died. Murphy said police were keeping the circumstances leading to his death secret.
CNN reported Baltimore Deputy Police Commissioner Jerry Rodriguez said he doesn’t know how the injury occurred. But Baltimore Police Captain Eric Kowalczky said the police department has suspended six officers with pay and the city is investigating, and hopes to have its conclusions ready May 1.
“We welcome outside review,” Kowalczky said, CNN reported. “We want to be open, we want to be transparent. We owe it to the city and we owe it to the Gray family to find out exactly what happened.”
The Department of Justice said agents are looking into whether the civil rights of Gray were violated during the arrest.
Gray’s death comes as police departments around the nation are facing scrutiny over recent suspect killings. Just a month ago, Department of Justice investigators released a report that ruled Ferguson, Missouri, police and city officials were guilty of widespread racial discrimination. The Department of Justice is also working with FBI and local law enforcement agents to determine the circumstances leading to the recent police shooting death of Walter Scott in South Carolina.
Protesters converged on the Baltimore Police Department earlier this week, waving signs with “No justice, no peace” messages and chanting, “Hands up, don’t shoot.” More protests are planned for Wednesday, various media reported.
Headline News reported Wednesday morning police have yet to turn over Gray’s body to his family for burial.