Baltimore City State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby announced this morning the death of Freddie Gray was ruled a homicide by the medical examiner and the six officers who dealt with the 25-year-old are being criminally charged. Her announcement was a surprise -- but not surprising. She said Freddie's arrest was illegal and there is probable cause to file charges. 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, assault, manslaughter, misconduct and other charges. Officer William Porter, 25, and Lt. Brian Rice, 41, were charged with involuntary manslaughter. Sgt. Alicia White, 30, was charged with manslaughter and involuntary manslaughter. Officer Edward Nero, 29, and Officer Garrett Miller, 26, were charged with assault and misconduct. Freddie was chased down and arrested by Baltimore officers on April 12 and died a week later. His family has said he suffered a spinal cord injury and a crushed voice box. A second man in the police van said he heard banging. The state attorney said Freddie was improperly arrested because officers had no probably cause to detain him. (He had a knife (not a switchblade), which is permitted under law in Baltimore.) In a detailed recounting of the events, the state attorney described Freddie being repeatedly denied medical attention by police officers, even as he asked for medical help and later was unresponsive in a police van. Arrest warrants were issued for the six officers earlier this morning and they are expected to surrender and be arraigned today.
Here's the video of the state's attorney, who's never prosecuted a murder case, outlining the evidence and announcing the charges against the officers.
Update: Here are the officers' mugshots. They all posted bond.
source: Baltimore Sun
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