Attorney Ben Crump, family of Darryl Williams respond to autopsy findings in emotional address
Civil rights activist and attorney Ben Crump held a Friday news conference with the family of Darryl Williams, who died in Raleigh police custody.
The family and Crump responded to the autopsy findings that outline how Williams died in January while Raleigh police tried to take him into custody.
Williams' cause of death is listed as a homicide, caused by a "sudden cardiac arrest in the setting of cocaine intoxication, physical exertion, conducted energy weapon use and physical restraint," according to the autopsy. A state representative said the homicide classification determined by a medical examiner is a neutral term that does not imply or indicate criminal charges.
During Friday's address, Crump and Dawn Blagrove with Emancipate NC were pointed in questioning police tactics and calling for the officers involved to be fired.
"The blood of Darryl Tyree Williams is on the hands of everybody who is promoting this policy of proactive policing," Crump said at Martin Luther King Memorial Gardens in Raleigh.
Video: Click or tap here to watch Friday's news conference with Ben Crump, Dawn Blagrove
The autopsy also states obesity, hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease were contributing factors.
"Medical records also showed a history of an unspecified irregular heartbeat," the autopsy states.
On Jan. 17 outside of sweepstakes parlor, officers shocked Williams three times with a Taser and he later died, despite yelling that he had a heart condition. The Raleigh native was 32.
Six police officers were involved and all placed on administrative leave at the time.
On Wednesday, WRAL News reached out to Raleigh police and Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman for an update on their status.
Freeman will decide whether the officers involved will face criminal charges. She says the decision will be announced within the next 30 days.
On Wednesday, Crump, Blagrove and DiCello Levitt partner Kenneth Abbarno provided a written statement about the release of Williams' autopsy.
“The findings from this autopsy serve as a chilling confirmation of what we have known to be true since we first viewed the video footage: Darryl’s death was a direct result of excessive and unreasonable police force," the attorneys wrote. "Despite officers knowing of his heart condition, they deployed a taser against him numerous times, showing a shocking disregard for his life.
"We will leave no stone unturned in the pursuit of truth, justice, and accountability, and we will work tirelessly to ensure that those responsible for this senseless loss of life are held accountable and that meaningful changes are implemented to prevent a tragedy like this from occurring in the future.”
During the Jan. 17 encounter on Rock Quarry Road near Merrywood Drive, Raleigh police officers suspected Williams had alcohol and marijuana in the car and asked to search it. Inside Williams' car, officers found drugs and two guns, one of which had been reported stolen.
