Freddie Gray was arrested by Baltimore police in the Sandtown-Winchester neighborhood on April 12, 2015. While in police custody, Gray suffered spinal cord injuries while being transported in the police van, was not breathing when he arrived at the police station and died on April 19. Peaceful protests followed and the community morned the death of Mr. Gray. Following his funeral on April 27, the city descended into chaos with local residents clashing with police in a series of more violent protests and civil disorder.
After the police-involved deaths of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, Tamir Rice in Cleveland, Ohio, Eric Garner in New York, and Walter Scott in North Charleston, South Carolina, the events in Baltimore surrounding the death of Freddie Gray expressed the frustration of what many feel is a larger national issue of police mistreatment of black men.
Six Baltimore police officers have been charged with crimes relating to the death of Mr. Gray and the U.S. Department of Justice is conducting a review of practices of the Baltimore Police Department.
Protestors participate in a vigil for Freddie Gray down the street from the Baltimore Police Department's Western District police station, April 21, 2015 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
Pallbearers carry the casket of Freddie Gray to the hearse after his funeral at New Shiloh Baptist Church, April 27, 2015 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
Protestors rally after a march for Freddie Gray that ended in front of the Baltimore Police Department's Western District police station, April 21, 2015 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
A protestor gestures toward police during a rally after a march for Freddie Gray that ended in front of the Baltimore Police Department's Western District police station, April 21, 2015 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
Baltimore Police officers walk in formation on Reisterstown Road near Mondawmin Mall, April 27, 2015 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
Baltimore Police officers push back a protestor on Reisterstown Road near Mondawmin Mall, April 27, 2015 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
Baltimore Police officers confront protestors with tear gas on Reisterstown Road near Mondawmin Mall, April 27, 2015 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
Baltimore Police Commissioner Anthony Batts chases away protestors in a parking lot on Reisterstown Road near Mondawmin Mall, April 27, 2015 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
A Baltimore Police officer checks on a man who was injured along Reisterstown Road, April 27, 2015 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
Police in riot gear push back protestors on Reisterstown Road near Mowdamin Mall, April 27, 2015 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
Baltimore Police officers arrest a man near Mondawmin Mall, April 27, 2015 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
People walk past a burning police car near the intersection of Pennsylvania Avenue and North Avenue, April 27, 2015 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
A man stands outside a Cash Express store that was damaged and looted, near the intersection of Pennsylvania Avenue and North Avenue, April 27, 2015 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
With Baltimore Police officers in riot gear lining the street, a man stands and shouts toward police at the corner of Pennsylvania Avenue and North Avenue, April 27, 2015 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
Surrounded by community leaders, Rep. Elijah Cummings and Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake take questions during a press conference at Bethel AME Church, April 26, 2015 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
Children on bikes look on as protesters march for Freddie Gray on Laurens Street, April 21, 2015 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
With members of the Perkins family looking on behind him, Nico Perkins, 2, dribbles a basketball in front of his family home in the Sandtown-Winchester neighborhood in Baltimore, Maryland, Friday, June 5, 2015. (Drew Angerer for The New York Times)
With Baltimore Eastern District Police Captain Desmond Carter-Bey looking on at right, Michael Shivers, 9, gets an ice cream cone from an ice cream truck in the Barclay neighborhood in East Baltimore, Friday, June 5, 2015. Police bought ice cream for local kids during their "good neighbor walk." (Drew Angerer for The New York Times)
A Baltimore Police officer meets with residents in the Barclay neighborhood during a "good neighbor walk" in East Baltimore, Friday, June 5, 2015. Every Friday at 6pm, members of the Baltimore's Eastern District Police station walk through a neighborhood to greet and interact with local residents. (Drew Angerer for The New York Times)
Baltimore mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake talks with school children in the stands during a charity basketball game in Baltimore, Maryland, Thursday, July 9, 2015. (Drew Angerer for The New York Times)
People walk past a mural depicting Freddie Gray, near the Gilmor Homes housing complex where Gray was arrested in the Sandtown-Winchester neighborhood in Baltimore, Maryland, Friday, June 5, 2015. (Drew Angerer for The New York Times)
Police respond to the scene where a man was reportedly shot in the leg, on the 1600 block of Gilmor Street in the Sandtown-Winchester neighborhood in Baltimore, Maryland, Thursday, June 4, 2015. (Drew Angerer for The New York Times)