Autopsy report shows Floyd had tested positive for Covid-19
04 June, 2020
A complete autopsy of George Floyd, the handcuffed black man who died after being restrained by Minneapolis police, was released Wednesday and several clinical details, including that Floyd had previously tested positive for Covid-19.
The 20-page report released by the Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office was included with the family’s permission and after the coroner’s office released summary findings Monday that Floyd had a coronary attack while being restrained by officers, and classified his May 25 death as a homicide.
Bystander video showing Minneapolis officer Derek Chauvin pressing his knee on Floyd’s neck, ignoring Floyd’s “I can’t breathe” cries until he eventually stopped moving, has sparked nationwide protests, some violent.
The report by Chief Medical Examiner Andrew Baker spelled out clinical details, including that Floyd had tested positive for COVID-19 on April 3 but appeared asymptomatic. The report also noted Floyd’s lungs appeared healthy but he previously some narrowing of arteries in the heart.
The county’s earlier summary report had listed fentanyl intoxication and recent methamphetamine use under “other significant conditions” however, not under “reason behind death.” The entire report’s footnotes noted that signs of fentanyl toxicity range from “severe respiratory depression” and seizures.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison on Wednesday upgraded charges against Chauvin to 2nd-degree murder, and in addition charged the three other officers on the scene with aiding and abetting.
Floyd family attorney, Ben Crump, earlier decried the state autopsy - as described in the original complaint against Chauvin - for ruling out asphyxia. An autopsy commissioned by the Floyd family figured he died of asphyxiation because of neck and back compression.
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