Judicial inquiry into Eric Garner's death, role of NYC officials set for July

By Alyssa Wilson Published: April 21, 2021

Judicial inquiry into Eric Garner’s death, role of NYC officials set for July

FILE - In this Aug. 23, 2014, file photo, a demonstrator holds a sign bearing the likeness of Eric Garner and Michael Brown before a march to protest the death of Garner, in the Staten Island borough of New York. A wave of police killings of young black men in 2014 prompted 24 states to quickly pass some type of law enforcement reform, but many declined to address the most glaring issue: police use of force. Six years later, only about a third of states have passed laws on the question. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File)

A judicial inquiry that will examine Eric Garner’s death at the hands of police and actions by officials in New York City is set to take place in July.

State Supreme Court Justice Erika Edwards made the announcement in a video-conference hearing where she told Garner’s family to be ready the week of July 19, the NY Daily News reported.

The inquiry comes nearly seven years to the day after Garner died on a sidewalk in New York.

In 2019, Garner’s mother and sister worked with a group of racial justice advocates to file a petition seeking a judicial inquiry.

It will examine how Garner died, review the force used by officers, take a look at the alleged lack of medical care given to him on the scene and seek to understand how information about Garner’s record was leaked to the media.

Multiple officials could be called to testify, including Mayor Bill de Blasio and former New York City Police Department Commissioner James O’Neill.

In 2014, Garner was approached by NYPD officers Daniel Pantaleo and Justin D’Amico for illegally selling cigarettes.

Pantaleo placed Garner in a chokehold and pinned him to the ground. He passed out and was pronounced dead at the hospital.

The medical examiner ruled his cause of death a homicide by suffocation.

In December of that year, a state grand jury decided not to indict Pantaleo on criminal charges and protests erupted around the country.

Five years after his dying words of “I can’t breathe” amplified the Black Lives Matter movement, the officer responsible was fired from the New York City Police Department.

O’Neill ruled that Pantaleo used a banned chokehold and broke department policy.

If you or someone you know is struggling with trauma triggered by police violence, mental health resources are available for you here.