An independent autopsy ordered by George Floyd’s family and the Hennepin County Medical Examiner have concluded his death was a homicide — but they disagree as to what caused his death.
The independent autopsy says Floyd died of “asphyxiation from sustained pressure.” This allegedly occurred when his neck and back were compressed — cutting off the supply of oxygen to his brain — by Minneapolis police officers during his arrest last week.
But according to the medical examiner’s office, their report stated that the cause of death is “cardiopulmonary arrest complicating law enforcement subdual, restraint, and neck compression,” — causing his heart to fail.
Floyd’s died after former police officer Derek Chauvin placed his knee on Floyd’s neck as his former fellow officers kneeled on his back.
Chavin’s knee remained on Floyd’s neck for eight minutes and 46 seconds in total — two minutes and 53 seconds after Floyd was unresponsive.