The Department of Justice will not bring federal charges against the six Baltimore police officers involved in the arrest and death of Freddie Gray in 2015.
According to Bill Murphy, the Gray family’s attorney, the Justice Department told him they would not bring charges against the officers.
“After an extensive review of this tragic event, conducted by career prosecutors and investigators, the Justice Department concluded that the evidence is insufficient to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Officer Caesar Goodson, Officer William Porter, Officer Garrett Miller, Officer Edward Nero, Lieutenant Brian Rice, or Sergeant Alicia White willfully violated Gray’s civil rights. Accordingly, the investigation into this incident has been closed without prosecution,” the department said in a press release.
Gray, 25, was handcuffed and shackled in the back of a police van. He was unrestrained by a seatbelt, and broke his neck during the April 2015 ride. He died a week later, setting off scores of racially-charged protests.
Baltimore State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby brought charges against the officers. Three were acquitted — Officer Caesar Goodson Jr., Lt. Brian Rice, and Officer Edward Nero — before Mosby dropped the remaining cases.
The Justice Department, under former Attorney General Loretta Lynch, launched a probe into the incident nearly 2 1/2 years ago to look into whether Gray’s civil rights were violated.
Public disciplinary trials for five of the officers are still scheduled for October.
The Justice Department also initiated a broader investigation into the Baltimore Police Department, announcing the findings — that the department engages in a pattern or practice of conduct that violates the First and Fourth Amendment, as well as federal anti-discrimination laws — last summer.
Baltimore entered into a court-bound consent decree earlier this year after pushback by new Justice Department leadership, seeking to reform its policies and pratcies.
