Freddie Gray's Autopsy Leaked: 'High-Energy Injury,' Homicide

Freddie Gray, the man whose death while in the custody of Baltimore police set off major rioting, suffered a single "high-energy injury" to his neck and spine, according to a Maryland medical examiner's autopsy report leaked to the Baltimore Sun.

The leaked autopsy report said the injuries were likely caused when the police van Gray was in suddenly decelerated. The report concluded Gray's death was a homicide because of officers' "acts of omission" in not restraining him according to safety procedures.



Opiates and cannabinoid were found in Gray's body when he was admitted to Maryland Shock Trauma Center, according to the autopsy.

Gray's death ignited angry protests of police brutality in the days and weeks following his arrest in April, including looting and rioting in the neighborhood where the 25-year-old was taken into custody, noted the Washington Post.

The state attorney's office charged six officers in connection with Gray's death. Baltimore Police Officer Caesar R. Goodman Jr., the driver of the police van, was charged with second-degree depraved-heart murder, while Sgt. Alicia D. White, Officer William F. Porter and Lt. Brian W. Rice were charged with manslaughter. Officers Edward M. Nero and Garrett E. Miller face lesser charges, including second-degree assault.

There was controversy about how the autopsy report was leaked, according to WBAL-TV. The office of Baltimore city state's attorney Marilyn Mosby said in a statement it did not play a role in the leak.

"I want to make it very clear that the State's Attorney's Office did not release the Freddie Gray autopsy report. As I have repeatedly stated, I strongly condemn anyone with access to trial evidence who has leaked information prior to the resolution of this case," said Mosby.

Defense attorneys for the indicted officers said they were blindsided by the leak.

"To be absolutely clear, neither the six officers nor any of their attorneys have a copy of the autopsy report, nor have we seen it," the attorneys said in a statement. "It was our understanding that the only copy of the autopsy was in the possession of the State's Attorney's Office and the State Medical Examiner's Office. We were expecting, and continue to expect, all discovery, including the autopsy, to be turned over to us by no later than Friday, June 26."

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