Family’s Autopsy Finds George Floyd Died By ‘Homicide Caused By Asphyxia’

TOPLINE

A private autopsy ordered by George Floyd’s family appears to contradict details released from Hennepin County’s preliminary exam, concluding he died by “homicide caused by asphyxia due to neck and back compression that led to a lack of blood flow to the brain.”

KEY FACTS

Critical quote: 

“The family and I reject this notion… that the knee from the police officer on George’s neck for almost nine minutes was not the proximate cause of his death,” Floyd’s family attorney, Benjamin Crump, said in a statement. 

Big Number:

4,400: More than 4,400 people have been arrested at demonstrations nationwide since video emerged, showing Floyd’s final few minutes of life. 

Key Background:

The six days since Floyd was pronounced dead have been marked by unrest throughout the country, with protests, demonstrations and riots raging in more than 30 cities nationwide. The Hennepin County medical examiner’s office has said their official findings are pending toxicology reports and could take at least three weeks to be released. 

“What we found is consistent with what people saw,” said Baden. “There is no other health issue that could cause or contribute to the death. Police have this false impression that if you can talk, you can breathe. That’s not true.”

Tangent:

As of Monday afternoon, the three other officers who were involved in Floyd’s arrest have not been charged. 

Further Reading:

Independent autopsy finds George Floyd died of asphyxia (ABC News)

More NBA Players—Including Michael Jordan And Lebron James—Speak Out Loudly Against Police Brutality (Forbes)

George Floyd died from ‘asphyxiation from sustained pressure,’ independent autopsy says (CBS)

Epstein’s Autopsy ‘Points to Homicide,’ Pathologist Hired by Brother Claims (NYT)