Official and independent autopsies both rule George Floyd's death was homicide

Preliminary results from an independent autopsy commissioned by George Floyd's family found that his death in the custody of Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was "homicide caused by asphyxia due to neck and back compression that led to a lack of blood flow to the brain," according to a statement from the family's attorney.

The latest: An updated official autopsy released by the Hennepin County medical examiner also determined that the manner of Floyd's death was "homicide," ruling it was caused by "cardiopulmonary arrest complicating law enforcement subdued, restraint, and neck compression."

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Why it matters: Both the independent autopsy and the updated official autopsy contradicted preliminary findings from the Hennepin County medical examiner, who found “no physical findings that support a diagnosis of traumatic asphyxiation or strangulation,” according to charging documents against Chauvin.

• “Mr. Floyd had underlying health conditions including coronary artery disease and hypertensive heart disease,” the complaint from the Hennepin County attorney said.
• “The combined effects of Mr. Floyd being restrained by police, his underlying health conditions and any potential intoxicants in his system likely contributed to his death.”

A spokesperson for the Hennepin County medical examiner declined to comment when asked why the preliminary findings of the autopsy differed from the official report.

• The report notes that manner of death is a “statutory function of the medical examiner” for the purposes of statistics and public health, and is “not a legal determination of culpability or intent” that can be applied in judicial proceedings.

Details:

World renowned medical examiner Dr. Michael Baden and Dr. Allecia Wilson found the manner of Mr. Floyd’s death was homicide caused by asphyxia due to neck and back compression that led to a lack of blood flow to the brain. Sustained pressure on the right side of Mr. Floyd’s carotid artery impeded blood flow to the brain, and weight on his back impeded his ability to breathe. The independent examiners found that weight on the back, handcuffs and positioning were contributory factors because they impaired the ability of Mr. Floyd’s diaphragm to function. From all the evidence, the doctors said it now appears Mr. Floyd died at the scene.

Attorney Ben Crump on the independent autopsy

What they're saying:

• "For George Floyd, the ambulance was his hearse," Crump said in a statement. "Beyond question, he would be alive today if not for the pressure applied to his neck by fired officer Derek Chauvin and the strain on his body from two additional officers kneeling on him.
• "Mr. Floyd’s death was a homicide by officers who taunted him while holding him down for more than eight minutes. And the officer who stood by doing nothing was a physical blue shield — a living symbol of the code of silence."

This story is developing. Please check back for updates.