Freddie Gray, whose death triggered Monday’s rioting in Baltimore, may have intentionally tried to injure himself in a police van, according to another prisoner in the vehicle, the Washington Post reported Wednesday night.
The Post said the unidentified prisoner, who was separated from Gray by a metal partition and could not see him, reportedly said he could hear Gray “banging against the walls” and believed he “was intentionally trying to injure himself.”
His statements were contained in an investigative document obtained by the paper, which said it was not clear if there was any additional information to support the theory.
Gray, who is black, was arrested April 12 after he ran from police. Officers held him down, handcuffed him and loaded him into the van. While inside, he became irate and leg cuffs were put on him, police have said. At some point he suffered a severe spinal injury and was unconscious when the van arrived at a police station.
Gray asked for medical help several times, beginning before he was placed in the van. After a 30-minute ride that included three stops, paramedics were called.
Authorities have not explained how or when Gray's spine was injured. He died April 19.
The Post said Jason Downs, one of the attorneys for the Gray family, said “We disagree with any implication that Freddie Gray severed his own spinal cord.”
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