The medical examiner’s report released Monday listed „cardiopulmonary arrest complicating law enforcement subdual, restraint and neck compression“ as the cause of death. It came hours after Floyd…
The medical examiner’s report released Monday listed „cardiopulmonary arrest complicating law enforcement subdual, restraint and neck compression“ as the cause of death. It came hours after Floyd family attorney Benjamin Crump held a press conference to announce the findings of a family-commissioned autopsy.
The family autopsy stated „asphyxiation from sustained pressure was the cause“ of Floyd’s death.
Dr. Michael Baden and Dr. Allecia Wilson performed the autopsy and said there was „neck and back compression that led to a lack of blood flow to the brain,“ Crump said Monday.
They added that „weight on the back, handcuffs and positioning were contributory factors because they impaired the ability of Mr. Floyd’s diaphragm to function.“
Floyd died May 25 after a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for several minutes while he was handcuffed on the ground, crying that he couldn’t breathe and pleading for help. The incident has galvanized outrage, sparking protests and violence throughout the U. S.
Monday’s medical examiner’s report indicates that its finding „is not a legal determination of culpability or intent, and should not be used to usurp the judicial process.“
That autopsy found „no physical findings that support a diagnosis of traumatic asphyxia or strangulation,“ according to the document, which suggests Floyd’s existing health conditions – coronary artery disease and hypertensive heart disease – combined with being restrained by police and any „potential intoxicants in his system“ contributed to his death.
