NYPD Chokehold Death Ruled a Homicide

A medical examiner has made a ruling of homicide in the death of Eric Garner, the Staten Island man who died in a chokehold by a New York Police Department officer. Compression of the neck and chest and Garner’s position on the ground when being restrained by police caused the 43-year-old father’s death, with contributing factors including his acute and chronic bronchial asthma, obesity, and hypertensive cardiovascular disease. Garner died July 17 after being arrested for allegedly selling untaxed cigarettes. Amateur video of the incident captured Garner gasping “I can’t breathe!” multiple times during the altercation. Chokeholds are banned under NYPD policy.