Six Baltimore police officers accused in the death of Freddie Gray have been all indicted by a grand jury.
On May 21, State Prosecutor Marilyn Mosby announced the revised charges, but the most serious charges – including second-degree murder – remained.
Freddie Gray suffered a severe spinal cord injury in police custody in April and died a week later.
The black man’s death sparked weeks of protests and later riots and looting in Baltimore.
Marilyn Mosby said: “As is often the case, during an ongoing investigation, charges can and should be revised based upon the evidence.”
The grand jury did not return charges on the false imprisonment charges that were brought against some of the officers.
Marilyn Mosby brought the false imprisonment charges earlier claiming that Freddie Gray’s arrest was unjustified and illegal.
However, the grand jury did return new reckless endangerment charges that were not part of the original charges announced three weeks ago.
Marilyn Mosby has said that Freddie Gray’s neck was broken while he was being handcuffed and placed into a police van. She also said that police repeatedly ignored his pleas for medical attention.
The officers are scheduled to appear in court on July 2.
A lawyer for the six Baltimore police officers said they “did nothing wrong”, after criminal charges were announced by Marilyn Mosby earlier this month.
Lawyer Michael Davey said the officers “at all times acted reasonably and in accordance with their training” and accused Marilyn Mosby of an “egregious rush to judgement”.
He also said that the defense team had “grave concerns about the fairness and integrity of the prosecution of our officers”.
Marilyn Mosby rejected a police union request to step aside and appoint a special prosecutor to handle the case.
The grand jury’s decision to bring charges largely similar to Marilyn Mosby’s may quiet calls for her to step aside.
Freddie Gray’s death is the latest in a string of high-profile cases in the US where unarmed black men have died after contact with the police.
After Freddie Gray’s funeral, riots broke out in sections of West Baltimore, prompting city and state officials to deploy thousands of extra law enforcement officers and National Guard troops to keep the peace and enact a citywide curfew.
Baltimore police officers charges:
Officer Caesar Goodson: 2nd-degree depraved heart murder, involuntary manslaughter, 2nd degree negligent assault, manslaughter by vehicle by means of gross negligence, manslaughter by vehicle by means of criminal negligence, misconduct in office for failure to secure prisoner and failure to render aid, reckless endangerment
Officer William Porter: Involuntary manslaughter, assault in the 2nd degree, misconduct in office, reckless endangerment
Lieutenant Brian Rice: Involuntary manslaughter, assault in the 2nd degree, assault in the 2nd degree [second of two similar charges], misconduct in office, reckless endangerment
Officer Edward Nero: Assault in the 2nd degree (intentional), assault in the 2nd degree (negligent), misconduct in office, reckless endangerment
Baltimore has declared a state of emergency amid violent protests linked to Freddie Gray’s death.
The African American man was fatally injured in police custody.
A week-long curfew has been announced and as many as 5,000 National Guard troops could be deployed.
After dark, a community building that was under construction was engulfed in flames.
On April 27, dozens of people were seen confronting police, and 15 officers were injured.
Freddie Gray, 25, died on April 19 after a week in a coma. The justice department is investigating exactly where and when his spinal injuries were sustained.
Officials have suspended six police officers who were involved in the case.
Monday’s clashes began hours after Freddie Gray’s funeral.
Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake said it was very clear there was a difference between the “peaceful protests of those who seek justice” and the “thugs who want to incite violence”.
Authorities were “deploying every resource possible to regain control of the situation”, Stephanie Rawlings-Blake said.
Later, following violence, looting and fires in various spots across the city of more than 620,000 people, she said: “This destruction we’ve seen this evening is heart-breaking.”
Stephanie Rawlings-Blake has ordered a week-long curfew from 22:00 to 05:00 starting on April 28. Public schools are to be closed on Tuesday.
National Guard commander Linda Singh said that up to 5,000 troops could be put on the streets.
“We will be out in massive force,” she said, adding that armored vehicles would be used, but Baltimore would not be under martial law.
Extra police officers are also being drafted in from the Mid-Atlantic region.
Earlier, President Barack Obama said his administration would provide whatever assistance was needed.
Maryland Governor Larry Hogan issued an executive order to “protect the lives and property of citizens being impacted by this public emergency”.
Larry Hogan said calling in the National Guard was a “last resort” and that he had “not made this decision lightly”.
Capt. Eric Kowalczyk of Baltimore Police said the 15 injured officers were wounded by thrown objects including bricks and bottles. Two remain in hospital.
Police made at least 27 arrests.
On April 27, fire broke out at a newly constructed community building near a church in eastern Baltimore.
Kevin Harris, a spokesman for the mayor, said the fire was at the Mary Harvin Transformation Centre, described online as a community-based organization that supports young people and families.
Before nightfall, scenes included a blaze at a CVS chemist, stores being looted and police vehicles being burned and vandalized.
Baltimore’s Major League Baseball team the Orioles cancelled Monday night’s game against Chicago’s White Sox as a result of the violence.
Freddie Gray’s death is the latest in a string of high-profile cases where black men have died after contact with the police.
At least 7 police officers have been injured after Baltimore protests over Freddie Gray’s death turned violent on April 27.
One of the officers is unresponsive.
Live video from helicopters shows dozens of people in the streets, confronting officers and smashing at least one police car.
Capt. Eric Kowalczyk said police are attempting to take control of the situation and will deploy tear gas and “pepper balls”.
Baltimore protests have taken place since the death of Freddie Gray on April 19.
Freddie Gray, 25, died after an encounter with police a week earlier during which he sustained serious and unexplained spinal injuries.
The protests and clashes come just hours after Freddie Gray’s funeral.
Baltimore Police have said that juveniles are taking part in the protests, and are calling on parents to find their children and return them home.
The violence “does not reflect the spirit of this movement,” said Pastor Jamal Bryant, an organizer of protests in previous days.
Pastor Jamal Bryant said members of his church are going in to the area to make appeals to the protestors to go home.
“These are not protestors these are lawless individuals,” Capt. Eric Kowalczyk told CNN.
Video feeds showed looters ransacking a neighborhood market, and, in a separate incident, burning a law enforcement vehicle.
Separately, protestors destroyed a police car by jumping on it and smashing the windows.
Officials said the protestors threw bricks, rocks and other items at police officers.
Earlier today, a statement released by police said that its Criminal Intelligence Unit learned “that members of various gangs including the Black Guerrilla Family, Bloods, and Crips have entered into a partnership” to target officers.
The violence is an escalation of earlier protests over the weekend that turned violent.
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