As grieving family members prepare for the Wednesday funeral of the Staten Island man who died while being arrested last week, medical experts are still unable to determine the cause of death.
Eric Garner, 43, died last Thursday outside of a beauty salon after a police officer placed him in what appears to be a chokehold, according to a highly circulated video recorded by a witness at the scene. Two officers and four emergency responders were placed on modified duty as authorities investigate Garner's death.
Garner, who was 350 pounds and said to suffer from asthma, died Thursday at Richmond University Medical Center, according to the New York Daily News.
A spokeswoman for the medical examiner said they are still determining how Garner died.
"At this time, no determination has been made by the medical examiner's office as to the cause and manner of death of Eric Garner," Julie Bolcer said according to the BBC. "The cause and manner of death are pending further studies, and no findings will be released until the investigation is complete.
A funeral for Garner is scheduled for Wednesday at Bethel Baptist Church in Brooklyn. A vigil was held the night before at a park near the site where Garner died, according to the Associated Press.
Family and community activists also marched to the Staten Island police precinct while repeatedly saying "I can't breathe," the words Garner said after an officer placed his arm around Garner's neck as they brought him to the ground, according to the video. He then appears to lose consciousness.
Police approached Garner, who had just broken up a fight, on suspicion that he was selling untaxed cigarettes.
"Before they even grabbed him, he told them he wasn't feeling good and that's why I pulled the camera out and started recording," Ramsey Orta, who shot the video that was obtained by the Daily News, told the AP. "They could've just hopped out on the guys who were fighting, but they didn't bother to ask. They just jumped straight on him."
Police Commissioner William Bratton ordered a "top to bottom review" of NYPD training procedures, the AP reported. He also said the FBI is keeping tabs on the investigation.
