The moment of silence comes as Baltimore braces for a mass demonstration and rally in memory of Gray.
Six
police officers were charged Friday with felonies ranging from assault
to murder in Gray's death. In announcing the charges, State's Attorney
Marilyn Mosby said police had no reason to stop or chase Gray in the
first place when they confronted him on April 12. He died of injuries on
April 19.
---
11:45 a.m.
Heavily
armed police and National Guard troops are making a show of force at
key intersections and government buildings in Baltimore in preparation
for Saturday's mass protest marches.
Barricades
have been erected to block vehicle traffic from the blocks around City
Hall, the destination of the largest planned march. Armored military
vehicles were parked at the checkpoints, and there were large numbers of
police and troops donning body armor, many carrying assault rifles.
The
marches were called earlier this week to protest the death of Freddie
Gray, a black man injured while in police custody April 12. But after
the arrest of six Baltimore police officers in the case on Friday, the
mood of Saturday's marches are expected to be more celebratory than
tense.
---
Midnight
Police
spokesman Sgt. Jarron Jackson says there were 38 protest-related
arrests and 15 curfew-violation arrests Friday night. Demonstrators took
to the streets Friday to celebrate the announcement that six police
officers were being charged in the death of Freddie Gray, who died of a
spinal injury received while in police custody earlier this month.
---
11:30 p.m.
A group of about 15 protesters marched through the downtown streets chanting "No justice, no peace" - to nobody in particular.
Police
vans and armored National Guard vehicles drove by the group, but took
no action, despite the protesters' clear defiance of a 10 p.m. curfew.
Just after 11:30 p.m., the group was debating what to do next, and then four or five ran to catch a bus as soon as they saw one.
---
10:45 p.m.
A
line of National Guard troops and tanks is at Baltimore City Hall,
along with a large crowd of members of the media and a line of police
wearing helmets and carrying body shields.
Mounted police are also guarding the area and police vans are on the scene.
There
did not appear to be any protesters left, other than a handful being
interviewed by reporters about what they saw when officers moved in
after 10 p.m. Friday and arrested a few people while others scattered
and dispersed.
---
10:30 p.m.
Live
television coverage of the remains of a protest at City Hall just after
the 10 p.m. curfew went into effect showed a line of police, carrying
shields, move in and take several people away.
In
a series of tweets, Baltimore police said the protesters remained at
War Memorial Plaza "in violation of the curfew," had been warned and
that officers were arresting protesters who refused to leave.
---
10:10 p.m.
A
more jubilant crowd was gathered at the Pennsylvania and North avenues
intersection in West Baltimore as the 10 p.m. curfew approached.
More
than 100 people were dancing in the streets Friday night and chanting
"Freddie" to celebrate charges against six officers in connection with
Freddie Gray's death.
Meanwhile, a helicopter
was hovering overhead and warning people that they were subject to
arrest while people danced atop a truck in the middle of the
intersection.
Pleas from police to reporters to confine themselves to a special media pen were largely ignored.
---
9:20 p.m.
Court
records indicate that the six Baltimore police officers charged in the
death of Freddie Gray have been released on bonds of between $250,000
and $350,000.
The six had turned themselves in
at the city jail Friday afternoon after the city's chief prosecutor
announced the charges against them.
State's
Attorney Marilyn J. Mosby says Gray's death was a homicide, his arrest
was illegal and his treatment amounted to murder and manslaughter.
An attorney speaking on behalf of the officers says the charges are a rush to judgment.
---
8:45 p.m.
Court
records indicate that all six Baltimore police officers charged in
Freddie Gray's death have posted bond, and five have been released. The
sixth officer, Sgt. Alicia White, had not yet been released.
One officer faces a second-degree murder charge. The other officers face manslaughter or assault charges, among others.
Gray died one week after suffering a spinal cord injury in police custody.
---
8 p.m.
A rally weaving its way through Baltimore may eclipse all the other protest marches this week.
More
than 1,000 people began at the Inner Harbor tourist district and made
their way to the city jail to seek amnesty for protesters previously
arrested.
From there, the marchers wound
through city streets to the site of Monday's rioting, then through the
neighborhood where Freddie Gray was arrested and at last count was
making its way to western district police headquarters.
The group seemed to make its mind as it went, sometimes switching direction and backing up when a majority took a new turn.
Protesters marched at least two hours nonstop and more than 7 miles, stretching multiple blocks.
Nearly
universally, people stuck in traffic beeped horns and waved support to
marchers, celebrating charges against six officers in connection with
Gray's death.
---
7:40 p.m.
Online
court records list the race of three of the officers charged in the
Freddie Gray case as black and list the three others in the broad
category of "white, Caucasian, Asiatic Indian, Arab" without specifying.
Officer
Caesar R. Goodson Jr., Officer William G. Porter and Sgt. Alicia D.
White are listed as black. Lt. Brian W. Rice, Officer Garrett E. Miller
and Officer Edward M. Nero are listed in the other category.
Goodson
is the driver of the vehicle that transported Gray and faces the most
serious charges. He allegedly repeatedly failed to secure Gray using a
seat belt as required by police, Baltimore's top prosecutor said Friday,
adding that Gray suffered a severe neck injury while handcuffed,
shackled and unsecured in the van.
---
7:30 p.m.
On
the day that six police officers were charged in the death of Freddie
Gray after his arrest, one east Baltimore police sergeant has warned
superiors that "it is about to get ugly."
Sgt.
Lennardo Bailey wrote in a letter to command staff in the city's
eastern district that officers are being challenged on the street. In
the letter obtained by The Associated Press, Bailey says he was
challenged to a fight on three of five calls he responded to Friday. The
letter was first reported by the website Buzzfeed.
"Some of them I blew off, but one of them almost got ugly," he said.
Police officials declined to comment and Bailey could not be reached for comment.
Fraternal
Order of Police Lodge No. 3 President Gene Ryan declined to comment on
the report but says the decision to charge the officers will make their
job harder. Ryan promised officers that the organization would continue
working diligently to ensure they have support to complete their
missions safely.
---
6:10 p.m.
Baltimore court records show the six police officers charged in the death of Freddie Gray have had their initial bail review.
Bail
was set at $350,000 for three officers and $250,000 for the other
three. One of the officers faces a second-degree murder charge and four
face involuntary manslaughter charges. The most severe charge for the
other two is assault.
The bail proceedings are not open to the public under Maryland law.
The records do not indicate that the officers have yet posted bail.
---
5:10 p.m.
The
stepfather of Freddie Gray says the family is satisfied with
prosecutors charging six police officers involved in Gray's arrest.
Richard
Shipley said at a news conference Friday that the charges were the
first step in getting justice for Gray, who prosecutors say died after
suffering a critical spine injury in the back of a police wagon.
An attorney for the Gray family says people must be mindful that the charges are a first step, not the last.
State's
Attorney Marilyn J. Mosby says Gray's death was a homicide, his arrest
was illegal and his treatment amounted to murder and manslaughter.
An attorney speaking on behalf of the officers says the charges are a rush to judgment.
---
4:30 p.m.
The
head of a group that is holding a march Saturday says it will now be a
"victory rally" after a prosecutor charged six officers in the death of
Freddie Gray.
Malik Shabazz, president of
Black Lawyers for Justice, said he was pleasantly surprised by the
charges and commended State's Attorney Marilyn J. Mosby "for standing up
for justice and setting a standard for prosecutors all over the
nation."
"We usually face injustice," he said.
Shabazz
has helped organize rallies after Gray suffered a critical injury while
in police custody. He hopes thousands show up for his rally Saturday.
---
4 p.m.
The
Baltimore police officers' union says the state's attorney has made a
rush to judgment by bringing charges against six officers in the death
of Freddie Gray.
Attorney Michael Davey, whose
firm was hired by the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 3, says he is
representing one of the officers, but is speaking on behalf of all of
them.
Davey says he has never seen such a hurried rush to file charges and the officers did nothing wrong.
Earlier
Friday, State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby declared that Gray's arrest was
illegal and his treatment amounted to murder and manslaughter.
---
3:50 p.m.
Demonstrators with the Baltimore United Coalition have arrived at City Hall after a peaceful march.
Marcher Dennis Farley says he's in Baltimore from Washington for the demonstration today.
"We're here to show our love and respect for justice in the world," he says.
---
3:30 p.m.
A
public safety department spokesman says all six officers charged in the
death of Freddie Gray have turned themselves in and are inside the
Baltimore Central Booking and Intake Center.
One officer faces a second-degree murder charge while the other officers face manslaughter or assault charges, among others.
Gray, a 25-year-old black man, died one week after suffering a spinal cord injury in police custody.
---
1:30 p.m.
Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake says five of six officers charged in the death of Freddie Gray are in custody.
Rawlings-Blake made the announcement Friday afternoon, hours after the city's chief prosecutor said they were charged.
"No one is above the law in our city," Rawlings-Blake said. "Justice must apply to all of us equally."
She also says she was sickened and heartbroken about the situation.
"There will be justice for Mr. Gray," she said.
Gray
died one week after suffering a spinal cord injury in police custody.
His death sparked outrage and protests in Baltimore and elsewhere
---
12:45 p.m.
The
sheriff's office says it expects the six police officers charged in
Freddie Gray's death to turn themselves in at the Baltimore jail hours
after charges were announced.
Maj. Samuel
Cogen with the Baltimore City Sheriff's Office said Friday that his
agency was processing arrest warrants for the six police officers. The
city's chief prosecutor announced the charges earlier Friday.
Gray
died one week after suffering a spinal cord injury in police custody.
His death sparked outrage and protests in Baltimore and elsewhere.
Cogen says the officers are expected to surrender themselves later Friday at the city's jail.
---
12:30 p.m.
President Barack Obama says it's "absolutely vital" that the truth about what happened to Freddie Gray comes out.
Obama
commented Friday shortly after Baltimore's top prosecutor announced
criminal charges against the six police officers who were suspected
after the 25-year-old Baltimore man suffered a fatal spinal injury in
police custody. His death angered the community and led to violent
protests, including looting and fires, after his funeral earlier this
week.
Obama says justice needs to be served
and all the evidence needs to be presented. He says the individuals
facing charges are entitled to due process.
"It
is my practice not to comment on the legal process that's involved ...
but I can tell you that justice needs to be served," Obama said. "All
the evidence needs to be presented. Those individuals who are charged
obviously are also entitled to due process and rule of law. So I want to
make sure that our legal system runs the way it should."
He says that what the people of Baltimore want most is the truth.
---
11:20 a.m.
Across
Baltimore, people are reacting to the charges against six police
officers in the death of Freddie Gray and praising the decision to
prosecute.
When State's Attorney Marilyn J. Mosby made the announcement at a news conference Friday, the crowd cheered.
Shortly
after, in front of a fire station where Gov. Larry Hogan is scheduled
to visit Friday, a man leaning out of a passing truck window pumped both
arms in the air and yelled, "Justice! Justice! Justice!"
At
the corner of North and Pennsylvania avenues, where the worst of the
rioting took place Monday after Gray's funeral, the mood was far
different than it had been the rest of the week.
Drivers
honked their horns. As buses stopped in front of the subway station,
whoops and hollers came from inside the vehicle as the doors opened.
But
there was no large gathering at the intersection immediately after the
announcement. Still, nearly 100 police in riot gear were deployed to the
intersection.
Ciara Ford of Baltimore expressed surprise at the decision to prosecute.
"I'm ecstatic," she said. "I hope this can restore some peace."
"It makes you cry," said her friend, Stephanie Owens of Columbia.
They
both expressed hopes that the officers would be convicted. Both
believed that the protests in the city made a difference in ensuring
that authorities took the case seriously.
"If we had kept quiet, I don't think they would have prosecuted," Ford said.
Gray, a 25-year-old black man, died one week after suffering a spinal cord injury in police custody.
---
11:10 a.m.
The Baltimore police officers union says the six officers charged in the Freddie Gray case aren't responsible for his death.
Fraternal
Order of Police Lodge 3 President Gene Ryan made the comment Friday in a
letter to Baltimore City State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby before she
announced the charges. It was the union's strongest statement to date in
the officers' defense.
"As tragic as this
situation is, none of the officers involved are responsible for the
death of Mr. Gray," Ryan wrote. "To the contrary, at all times, each of
the officers diligently balanced their obligations to protect Mr. Gray
and discharge their duties to protect the public."
Ryan
asked Mosby in the letter to appoint a special independent prosecutor.
But after announcing charges Friday, Mosby said she would not turn the
case over to a special prosecutor.
The union
contracts with an attorney, Michael Davey, who has said that five of the
six officers gave voluntary statements on the day of Gray's arrest.
---
11 a.m.
State's Attorney Marilyn J. Mosby says six officers in the police-custody death of Freddie Gray have been charged.
One officer faces a second-degree murder charge while the other officers face manslaughter or assault charges, among others.
Mosby
says the officers failed to get Gray medical help even though he
requested it repeatedly after he was arrested April 12. She called his
arrest illegal.
At some point while he was in custody, he suffered a mysterious spinal injury and died a week later.
---
10:35 a.m.
The
Baltimore police officers union is asking State's Attorney Marilyn
Mosby to appoint a special independent prosecutor for the Freddie Gray
death investigation.
Fraternal Order of Police
local president Gene Ryan told Mosby in a letter Friday that the union
is concerned about her ties to Gray family attorney Billy Murphy.
Murphy
was among Mosby's biggest campaign contributors last year, donating the
maximum individual amount allowed, $4,000, in June. He was also on
Mosby's transition team after the election.
The
union says none of the six officers suspended in the investigation is
responsible for Gray's death. The 25-year-old black man died one week
after suffering a severe spinal cord injury in police custody.
---
10:15 a.m.
The state medical examiner's office says it has sent the autopsy report on Freddie Gray to prosecutors.
Officials made the announcement Friday morning. The report is now in the hands of State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby.
Spokesman
Bruce Goldfarb says the Office of the Chief State Medical Examiner will
not release the report publicly while the case is under investigation.
Freddie Gray who died April 19 of spinal injuries he suffered while in police custody.
---
11:30 p.m.
Baltimore
police say they are investigating the suspicious death of a man whose
body was found in a tractor-trailer cab parked less than a block from
the scene of nightly protests over Freddie Gray's death.
Spokesman Sgt. Jarron Jackson said late Thursday that police do not believe the death is connected to the protests.
Jackson said a man's body was found Thursday night inside the truck's cab
There
was no trailer with the cab, which has the name Earl L. Henderson
Trucking Co. Salem, Illinois. The truck is parked in front of a
Baltimore social services building, less than a block from where many of
the protests have taken place.
