On Thursday, The Baltimore Police Department delivered a detailed internal report on the arrest and death of Freddie Gray to the state’s attorney a day before expected.
WJLA, a local Washington television station, reported that the medical examiner said, “Gray’s catastrophic injury was caused when he slammed into the back of the police transport van, apparently breaking his neck; a head injury he sustained matches a bolt in the back of the van.”
The station added that the medical examiner’s report also said, “What caused Gray to slam into the back of the van are unclear.”
Other media said the report indicated the van made four, not three stops as previously reported, during the more than 40-minute ride from where Gray was arrested to the Western District Police Station.
“Now is our time for unity and to work together as the Gray family has asked for and as the attorney has asked for, to seek justice for Mr. Gray,” said Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake.
As the government moved forward with the criminal justice process, protests resumed in Baltimore and Philadelphia, hometown sports heroes visited schools and churches held prayer services calling for calm and peace.
Former Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis, quarterback Joe Flacco, head coach John Harbaugh and other members of the team joined community leaders and teachers at Matthew Henson Elementary School. They assisted in handing out thousands of pounds of food and by offering inspirational words to students at Frederick Douglass High School, which is located near Mondawmin Mall, where students rioted Monday.
Protesters were joined by NBA Superstar Carmelo Anthony and music executive Kevin Lyles. “Our community is fed up. But we got to be smart about it. If we want something, we got to speak up,” said Anthony.