Baltimore Prosecutor: Freddie Gray's Death a Homicide, Police to Face Criminal Charges
The chief prosecutor for Baltimore, Maryland announced Friday that the death of 25-year-old Freddie Gray has been ruled a homicide, and six police officers will face criminal charges.
Baltimore State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby announced at a press conference Friday that the state's chief medical examiner ruled Gray's death a homicide.
Mosby said during the press conference that Gray reportedly sustained his life-ending spinal injury while being transported in a police van following his arrest. He was reportedly not restrained except for his handcuffs and did not receive assistance even though he requested it twice.
The chief prosecutor said during the press conference that Baltimore officials used all of their resources to make their decision regarding the six police officers criminally charged in Gray's death.
One police officer will reportedly be charged with murder, while three will face manslaughter charges and two will face assault charges.
"We put all our resources to make sure we were pursuing and leading where the facts took us in this case, which was to pursue justice," Mosby said.
"We have probable cause to file criminal charges," Mosby added while speaking at Baltimore's War Memorial Plaza.
The chief prosecutor added that Gray's arrest wasn't founded in the first place. Gray was accused of carrying an illegal switchblade, but it was later determined that the knife was not a switchblade and was in fact legal.
According to the Baltimore Business Journal, Baltimore City Fraternal Order of Police released a statement Friday saying "none of the officers involved are responsible for the death" of the 25-year-old, adding that the police "diligently balanced their obligations to protect to Gray."