A New York medical examiner has ruled Eric Garner's death a homicide. Garner died after an NYPD officer put him in a chokehold when placing him under arrest.
This video, obtained by the New York Daily News, shows Garner struggling as Officer Daniel Pantaleo applies pressure to his neck. Officers attempted to arrest him for allegedly selling untaxed cigarettes .
"I can't breath! I can't breath!"
The medical examiner determined his death was caused by "compression of neck (choke hold), compression of chest, and prone positioning during physical restraint by police." (Via ABC)
The examiner does list chronic bronchial asthma, obesity and hypersensitive cardiovascular disease, as "contributing conditions" but ultimately determined Garner's death was a homicide.
Pantaleo's gun and badge has been taken away and another officer has been placed on desk duty as a result of the incident.
Los Angeles Times quotes an American Civil Liberties Union spokesperson saying the ruling virtually guarantees the incident will get some time in court. "When the medical examiner rules a case a homicide by chokehold, and the entire world has seen a video of the people responsible for the chokehold, the case is going before the grand jury."
The case has definitely received a lot of attention, possibly because of other cases of police brutality in New York. (Via NBC)
Which puts a lot of pressure on Mayor Bill de Blasio for action. Rev. Al Sharpton got personal with the mayor, saying his multiracial son could've been in the same position as Garner.
"If Dante wasn't your son, he would be a candidate for a chokehold and we have got to deal with that reality." (Via NBC)
But not everyone is putting all the blame on the officers. The Patrolmen's Benevolent Association called the incident a "tragedy" in a statement but writes: "We believe, however, that if he had not resisted the lawful order of the police officers placing him under arrest, this tragedy would not have occurred."
The district attorney said the investigation into Garner's death will continue. No charges have been pressed as of Friday evening.
