George Floyd officially died from a heart attack while under arrest with evidence of fentanyl and meth use. Derek Chavin continues to be charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter.
After the initial autopsy by Hennepin County Medical Examiner finding 'no physical findings that support a diagnosis of traumatic asphyxiation or strangulation,' the legal team representing George Floyd's family decided that they will have an independent ME conduct another autopsy. Benjamin Crump, the Floyds' Civil Rights Attorney, explained that the family was disappointed with the initial findings filed in the complaint against officer Chauvin.
Dr. Michael Baden, a high profile forensic pathologist (JFK case and O.J. Simpson case), along with Allecia Wilson were hired. A new press release statement declares that although the manner of death was ruled as homicide, the cause of death was 'cardiopulmonary arrest complicated law enforcement subdual, restraint, and neck compression.'
Other significant conditions were arteriosclerotic and hypertensive heart disease, agreeing with the first ME findings. The new report confirms that Floyd was intoxicated, which officers Lane and Keung had asked upon initial arrest, with fentanyl. There were also traces of recent methamphetamine use.
Opioid & Meth
Pharmaceutical fentanyl is a synthetic opioid pain reliever, typically prescribed for treating severe pain such as advanced cancer pain. 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine, it has been an abused drug and cause of overdose all over the United States.
Fentanyl is often mixed with the illegal opioid heroin, and sometimes complemented by cocaine to increase euphoria for users. On the other hand, methamphetamine, the competing illegal drug of opioids is an addictive stimulant affecting the central nervous system, increasing dopamine in the brain. There is no information as to why both substances were present in the new report.
The employee from Cup Foods, calling the police after Mr. Floyd left the store and didn't want to put the cigarettes back after paying with a counterfeit $20 bill, said that the man seemed 'not in control of himself.'
Dr. Baden confirmed what all viewers witnessed on camera, that Floyd's blood flow was derived from the pressure Chauvin put on his neck. Baden also explains the weight of the officer on his back also contributed to the man's death.
Justice for Floyd
Ben Crump, the family's attorney, said that the family always believed what was confirmed by Baden when they rejected ' the notion from the Minneapolis Medical Examiner that the knee from the police officer on George's neck for almost nine minutes was not the proximate cause of his death.'
The new press release report also commented that 'manner of death is not a legal determination of culpability or intent, and should be used to usurp the judicial process,' as the ME is neutral and independent of the legal authority under Minnesota state law.
Christopher Harris, Floyd's childhood friend whom he had spoken to a night before the incident occurred, shared that forgery was out of character for Floyd. 'The way he died was senseless. He begged for his life. He pleaded for his life. When you try so hard to put faith in this system, a system that you know isn't designed for you, when you constantly seek justice by lawful means and you can't get it, you begin to take the law into your own hands.'
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