The Slatest

Report: Medical Examiner Says Fatal Freddie Gray Injury Was Caused by Van Wall

Baltimore Police Commissioner Anthony Batts.

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Baltimore’s medical examiner found that Freddie Gray’s fatal spinal injury “was caused when he slammed into the back of the police transport van” in which he’d been placed after his arrest, a local ABC station reports. The station also says a police report turned over to state prosecutors on Thursday “found no evidence” that Gray was injured during his “videotaped arrest and interaction with police officers.”

Police have said Gray was not properly buckled inside the van in which he was being transported, and suspects are known to have been intentionally injured previously in Baltimore police vans by so-called “rough rides.” However, Gray also appears to be in pain before entering the police van in recordings of his arrest.

The Washington Post reported Wednesday that a police document says another suspect who was in the van—who was separated from Gray by a metal divider and could not see him—believes Gray “was intentionally trying to injure himself” by throwing himself against the vehicle’s walls.

The police officer who was driving the van has reportedly declined to speak to investigators.

Read more of Slate’s coverage of Freddie Gray’s death.