Freddie Gray's death ruled a homicide, officers charged

Protesters in Baltimore
(Image credit: Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

State attorney Marilyn J. Mosby announced at a press conference Friday that a medical examiner has ruled the death of Freddie Gray, the 25-year-old man who died of an unexplained spinal injury in police custody, a homicide. Mosby said that charges, including misconduct and involuntary manslaughter, are being brought against the officers involved.

Not only did the officers ignore Gray's "obvious" need for medical assistance, Mosby said, denying Gray's requests for an inhaler after he said he couldn't breathe, but they also had no grounds to arrest him. Mosby added that Gray's fatal injury was the result of his being handcuffed and shackled by his feet, combined with being placed in a Baltimore police wagon without a seatbelt.

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Meghan DeMaria is a staff writer at TheWeek.com. She has previously worked for USA Today and Marie Claire.