A Maryland lawmaker who represents Baltimore in Congress urged city residents on Monday “not to take us off course” after a judge found a police officer not guilty of actions leading to the death of Freddie Gray.
“Justice has always relied on trust in the judicial process, and that is what I call on all of Baltimore’s residents to do because there will be more trials in the death of Mr. Freddie Gray,” said Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md. “We cannot control the outcome of any of these trials, but what we can control is our work to continue healing our community.”
Baltimore police officer Edward Nero was found not guilty on all counts against him in a bench trial decided by Judge Barry G. Williams. Nero is one of six officers charged with fatally injuring Gray as he sat in the back of a police van on April 12, 2015. Gray died on April 19.
His death was followed by days of rioting in the city.
Nero had been charged with second-degree intentional assault, two counts of misconduct in office and reckless endangerment.
Cummings, who delivered a eulogy at Gray’s funeral last year, cautioned residents in how they react to the not-guilty verdict.
“I believe that we are on the road to creating a city that uplifts all of its residents,” Cummings said. “Today’s verdict should not take us off course, instead, it should remind us of the importance of the road ahead.”
