Grand Jury Nears Decision in Eric Garner NYPD Chokehold Case

A New York City grand jury is reportedly close to deciding whether criminal charges will be pursued in the NYPD chokehold death of Eric Garner.

Garner was a 43-year-old father of six who died this past July while under arrest for allegedly selling untaxed cigarettes. Amateur video showed Officer Daniel Pantaleo putting Garner in a forbidden chokehold, while the victim shouted “I can’t breathe.”

In ruling Garner’s death a homicide, the city medical examiner stated the man died from “compression of the neck and chest, along with his positioning on the ground while being restrained by police.”

All throughout the week, a Staten Island panel of jurors heard testimony from the final witness in the case, another officer involved in the incident. According to CBS News, the local district attorney won’t comment on the proceedings but said a decision will be made public before year’s end.

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