Maryland State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby has charged all six police officers who were suspended over the death of Freddie Gray with crimes—including a charge of second-degree murder against one officer.
Mosby said in a press conference that Gray was arrested without probable cause and that the knife he was carrying at the time was not an illegal switchblade. Officers then shackled him in a police van without buckling him in a seat belt as required. From the New York Times:
The death, Ms. Mosby said, is believed to be the result of a fatal injury to Mr. Gray while he was riding in the van without a seat belt. As she announced the charges, there was cheering from people in the crowd.
Warrants have been issued for the officers’ arrests, Mosby said.
Baltimore’s police union has complained about Mosby’s connections to a Gray family attorney, the AP reports:
The Baltimore police officers union is asking State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby to appoint a special independent prosecutor for the Freddie Gray death investigation.
Fraternal Order of Police local president Gene Ryan told Mosby in a letter Friday that the union is concerned about her ties to Gray family attorney Billy Murphy.
Murphy was among Mosby’s biggest campaign contributors last year, donating the maximum individual amount allowed, $4,000, in June. He was also on Mosby’s transition team after the election.
The union says the officers charged were not responsible for Gray’s death.
Video of the press conference:
