The county medical examiner overseeing George Floyd’s case in Minnesota ruled his death a homicide in a report released Monday.
“Cause of death: Cardiopulmonary arrest complicating law enforcement subdual, restraint, and neck compression,” according to the official report by the Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office.
“Manner of death: Homicide. How injury occurred: Decedent experienced a cardiopulmonary arrest while
being restrained by law enforcement officer(s),” the report said.
It added that it also found while performing an autopsy on the 46-year-old black man “other significant conditions: Arteriosclerotic and hypertensive heart disease; fentanyl intoxication; recent methamphetamine use.”
The report noted, “Manner of death classification is a statutory function of the medical examiner, as part of death certification for purposes of vital statistics and public health. Manner of death is not a legal determination of culpability or intent, and should not be used to usurp the judicial process.
“Such decisions are outside the scope of the Medical Examiner’s role or authority.”
The issuance of the report came just several hours after private medical examiners hired by Floyd’s family said he was the victim of homicide caused by pressure to his neck and back by cops during a routine bust in Minneapolis on March 25.