Baltimore reaches $6.4M settlement with Freddie Gray’s family

Baltimore officials reached a $6.4 million settlement for wrongful death claims with the family of Freddie Gray, a 25-year-old black man who died in April after suffering fatal injuries while in police custody.

The city’s five-member governing body overseeing spending is expected to meet Wednesday to formally approve the settlement, according to The Baltimore Sun and Washington Post.

The settlement is larger than the combined amount in more than 100 other lawsuits brought against the police department since 2011 involving claims of police brutality and misconduct, according to the Sun.

{mosads}Gray suffered a spinal cord injury while in police custody in April. He was driven handcuffed and unbelted in the back of a police van.

Riots erupted on the day of his funeral later that month.

The settlement comes after a judge concluded last week that the six Baltimore police officers indicted in the arrest and death of Gray should be given separate trials, sparking renewed demonstrations.

Those officers have each pleaded not guilty.

Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake said in a statement that the settlement “should not be interpreted as a judgement on the guilt or innocence of the officers facing trial,” the Sun reported.

“This settlement is being proposed solely because it is in the best interest of the city, and avoids costly and protracted litigation that would only make it more difficult for our city to heal and potentially cost taxpayers many millions more in damages,” she added.