The officer involved in the death of Eric Garner in 2014 has been fired for his use of a prohibited chokehold during the encounter.
New York City Police Commissioner James O'Neill on Monday announced that NYPD officer Daniel Pantaleo "can no longer serve as a police officer," though he added that Garner "should have decided against resisting arrest."
The decision comes two weeks after it was determined that Pantaleo violated department policy when he restrained Eric Garner with a prohibited chokehold in 2014, leading to Garner's death in an attempt to arrest him for allegedly selling "loose" cigarettes. The police administrative judge who found Pantaleo guilty of the violation recommended his termination. Pantaleo's defense team had argued that Garner's death resulted from pre-existing health issues.
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The incident involving Pantaleo and Garner was caught on video, revealing that as Pantaleo restrained him Garner repeatedly said "I can't breathe," words which went on to play a significant role in the Black Lives Matter movement. Garner's family and fellow activists have been lobbying for Pantaleo to lose his job for years. They also believe at least 11 officers involved at the scene should be held accountable for their actions, The New York Times reports.
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