Freddie Gray Autopsy Report Shows ‘High-Energy Injury’ As Cause Of Death [Report]

Freddie Gray, a black man killed while in the custody of Baltimore police in April, died from a “high-energy injury,” according to the autopsy report. Medical examiner ruled Gray’s death a homicide because officers failed to follow safety protocols.

According to a copy of the autopsy report obtained by the Baltimore Sun, the victim’s deadly injury was likely caused when the police van he was riding in suddenly decelerated. Gray’s wrists and ankles being shackled without him being belted in put him “at risk for an unsupported fall during acceleration or deceleration of the van.” Although Gray was placed face down in the van, the medical examiner concluded Freddie Gray may have somehow gotten to his feet and was thrown into the wall of the van during “an abrupt change in direction.”

Although Gray’s autopsy found he died from a high-energy injury — an injury similar to shallow-water diving accidents — the medical examiner ruled his death a homicide as the police officers involved failed to follow safety procedures through “acts of omission.”

The autopsy report also shows Gray had no injuries stemming from a neck hold or physical restraint.

Freddie Gray, 25, who was arrested April 12 after a foot chase with police, died a week after suffering a spinal injury while in police custody. His death sparked protests not only in Baltimore, but across the country as Gray’s death followed a string of incidents in which black men died while in police custody.

As the Inquisitr previously reported, Baltimore City Attorney Marilyn Mosby presented evidence to a grand jury in May. The jury returned an indictment against all six officers involved in Gray’s arrest and death. Officer Garrett E. Miller, Sgt. Alicia D. White, Officer Caesar R. Goodson, Jr., Officer William G. Porter, Lt. Brian W. Rice, and Officer Edward M. Nero have all pleaded not guilty and will face trial in October.

Attorneys representing the six officers charged in Freddie Gray’s death released a statement Tuesday in response to the findings of the autopsy report, ABC News reports.

“To be absolutely clear, neither the six Officers nor any of their attorneys have a copy of the autopsy report, nor have we ever seen it. It was our understanding that the only copy of the autopsy was in the possession of the State’s Attorney’s Office and the State Medical Examiner’s Officer. We were expecting, and continue to expect, all discovery, including the autopsy, to be turned over to us by no later than Friday, June 26.”

[Image by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images]