Baltimore Will Give Freddie Gray's Family Millions

On Tuesday, The Washington Post reported that sources close to the matter confirmed that Baltimore would be paying Freddie Gray's family $6.4 million in a wrongful death settlement. Gray died in April after being taken into police custody by Baltimore cops, and wasn't breathing when he was carried from the police van later that afternoon; it's unclear precisely what happened in that van, but Gray wasn't wearing a seatbelt, and died from his injuries a week later. (Update: the mayor's office under Stephanie Rawlings-Blake has confirmed the proposed settlement, noting in a statement that "the proposed settlement agreement going before the Board of Estimates should not be interpreted as a judgment on the guilt or innocence of the officers facing trial.")

All six officers who arrested Gray and were in that van with him have been arrested for charges relating to Gray's death, and are awaiting six separate trials. Until Baltimore officials formally announce the settlement, it's unclear whether the city has taken responsibility for Gray's death as part of the settlement. The figure is eerily close to the settlement New York City gave to the family of Eric Garner — $5.9 million — who died on Staten Island a little under a year before Gray. Garner died when a police officer put him in a chokehold, causing a fatal asthma attack.

Keith Alexander of the Post reported that the settlement is not final, but will need to be approved by the city; so far, Alexander added, the city has paid approximately $5.7 million in police misconduct cases in the last four years, not including the $6.4 million proposed for Gray's family.