Dr. Michael Baden and Dr. Allecia Wilson performed the autopsy and they determined there was “neck and back compression that led to a lack of blood flow to the brain,” according to Crump’s statement. They went on to say that “weight on the back, handcuffs and positioning were contributory factors because they impaired the ability of Mr. Floyd’s diaphragm to function.”
To further contradict claims made in the initial autopsy, Baden stated that Floyd likely died at the scene of his arrest.
“What we found is consistent with what people saw,” Baden said. “There is no other health issue that could cause or contribute to the death. Police have this false impression that if you can talk, you can breathe. That’s not true.”
The incident was captured on video by passersby who witnessed four Minneapolis police officers arrest and restrain Floyd. He was taken into custody under suspicion of using a fake $20 bill.
As of this writing, Derek Chauvin is the only of the four officers who were on the scene to have been arrested, though they were all fired the following day.
Protests and riots have since been started throughout major cities across the U.S. for days in connection to Floyd’s death as citizens express their frustrations.