Coroner confirms George Floyd's death WAS a homicide as officials walk back initial reports he wasn't strangled after family's autopsy found cop's knee on his neck caused asphyxia
A medical examiner's office on Monday ruled that George Floyd's death was a homicide as they appeared to walk back initial reports that he wasn't strangled when a Minneapolis cop knelt on his neck during an arrest last week.
The medical examiner's finding that the death was a homicide by asphyxiation confirms the same conclusion of the independent autopsy that was also released on Monday, but there are key differences over the cause.
A press release from the Hennepin County Medical Examiner said that Floyd, who cried out that he couldn't breathe as Officer Derek Chauvin pinned him down by kneeling on his neck, had 'recent methamphetamine use' and 'fentanyl intoxication' - along with hypertension and coronary artery disease - all of which were possible contributing factors to his death.
But two doctors who carried out that independent autopsy of the 46-year-old and two attorneys for his family said that he had no underlying health conditions that may have contributed to his death.
They argued that not only the officer who was kneeing Floyd's neck killed him, but also two officers who were pressing their weight onto Floyd's back while he was on the ground.
They added that they did not have information on toxicology and any drug or alcohol use by Floyd.
A medical examiner's office on Monday ruled that George Floyd's death was a homicide as they appeared to walk back initial reports that the 46-year-old (pictured) wasn't strangled when a Minneapolis cop knelt on his neck during an arrest last week
Bystander video showed Floyd pleading to be let up and saying repeatedly that he couldn't breath as Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin pinned him to the ground for nearly nine minutes. The medical examiner's finding that the death was a homicide by asphyxiation confirms the same conclusion of the independent autopsy that was also released on Monday, but there are key differences over the cause
Dr Allecia Wilson of the University of Michigan, one of the two forensic doctors who performed the independent autopsy, said the evidence pointed to homicide by 'mechanical asphyxia' meaning from some physical force that interfered with oxygen supply.
While the county's full autopsy report has not yet been released - Monday's press release appeared to show authorities walked back their conclusions on what killed Floyd.
The original criminal complaint against Chauvin cited the medical examiner's office when it said it found no findings of 'strangulation or asphyxia'.
Carolyn Marinan, a spokeswoman for Hennepin County, did not confirm any reversal, saying only that Monday's press release were the 'final findings'.
Dr Michael Baden (left) and Dr Allecia Wilson (right) performed an independent autopsy on Floyd at his family's request. At a press conference Monday they said the sustained pressure applied by Chauvin on Floyd's neck impeded blood flow to his brain, while weight applied by two other officers, who placed their knees into his back, also limited his ability to breathe
Bystander video showed Floyd pleading to be let up and repeatedly saying 'I can't breathe' as Chauvin pinned him to the ground for nearly nine minutes.
Two other officers applied pressure with their knees to Floyd's back while a fourth looked on.
Chauvin, who is white and was fired from the Minneapolis police department over the incident, was hit with third-degree murder and manslaughter charges last week as protests over Floyd's death roiled the nation.
But Dr Michael Baden, who took part in the independent autopsy at the behest of Floyd's family, said that the two other officers' actions also caused Floyd to stop breathing.
'We can see after a little bit less than four minutes that Mr Floyd is motionless, lifeless,' Baden said.
He countered the argument that if Floyd could speak then he could breathe, saying: Many police are under the impression that if you can talk, that means you're breathing. That is not true.
'I am talking right now in front of you and not taking a breath.'
Baden also refuted the idea that Floyd had coronary artery disease. In a comment in reference to his age group's susceptibility to coronavirus, the 85-year-old quipped: 'I wish I had the same coronary arteries that Mr Floyd had.'
Baden has worked on several high-profile cases, including the 2014 death of Eric Garner, a black man who died after being placed in an unlawful chokehold by NYPD officer Daniel Pantaleo in New York City.
Panteleo, whose actions were caught on video, wasn't criminally charged but was fired from the police force in 2019.
Baden also previously conducted an autopsy on convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein that suggested he may have been murdered, in addition to testifying at the OJ Simpson murder trial.
Chauvin was arrested and charged last Friday over the death of George Floyd
Coroner confirms George Floyd's death WAS a homicide as officials walk back initial reports he wasn't strangled after family's autopsy found cop's knee on his neck caused asphyxia
![Coroner confirms George Floyd's death WAS a homicide as officials walk back initial reports he wasn't strangled after family's autopsy found cop's knee on his neck caused asphyxia]()
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June 02, 2020
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