theGrio

Back to the Top

Main menu

Skip to primary content
Skip to secondary content
  • Home
  • Entertainment
    • Music
    • The Dish
  • Health
    • Ask Dr. Ty
    • Black Men’s Health
    • Black Women and Breast Cancer
    • Back to School Health
  • Living
    • Travel and Leisure
    • Living Forward
    • Books
  • Politics
    • Perry on Politics
  • Sports
  • News
    • Good News
  • Opinion

News

Autopsy: Death of Chavis Carter ruled a suicide

by Jeannie Nuss, Associated Press | August 20, 2012 at 1:36 PM
Comments
Print
Chavis Carter

Photo from Chavis Carter's Facebook page.

Related Posts

  • Suicide ruling doesn't end questions in Chavis Carter case
  • Chavis Carter autopsy: Forensic expert calls suicide 'possible,' 'very unlikely'
  • Chavis Carter case latest: FBI 'monitoring' investigation, dash cam video and more
  • Jonesboro police 'recreate' alleged Chavis Carter handcuffed suicide
  • Arresting officers involved in Chavis Carter shooting case reinstated by Jonesboro police

LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas (AP) — An autopsy report released Monday lists the death of a man shot in the head while his hands were cuffed behind him in an Arkansas patrol car as a suicide.

The state crime lab report, signed by three medical examiners, said the muzzle of a gun was placed against the right side of 21-year-old Chavis Carter’s head when it was fired. Jonesboro police released the report to The Associated Press and other news organizations under a Freedom of Information Act request.

The report said the manner of death was ruled a suicide based on autopsy findings and investigative conclusions from the Jonesboro police department.

VIDEO: Arkansas police ‘recreate’ alleged suicide

“He was cuffed and placed into a police car, where apparently he produced a weapon, and despite being handcuffed, shot himself in the head,” the report says.

Police have said officers frisked Carter twice after a traffic stop without finding a gun before he was fatally shot July 28.

The autopsy report comes days after police released video recorded the night Carter was shot. Part of the video showed Carter being patted down and ended before officers found Carter slumped over and bleeding in the back of a patrol car as was described in a police report. Police later released additional video they said came after Carter was found.

VIDEO: Chavis Carter case raises questions in Jonesboro 

Carter’s death came after police stopped a truck in which he was riding. The driver and another passenger eventually were allowed to go, but police said Carter had an outstanding arrest warrant. Court records show it had to do with a drug charge.

Carter was searched twice and police said they found a small amount of marijuana, but no gun.

After the first search, an officer put Carter into a patrol car without handcuffing him. He was later searched again, handcuffed and returned to the same car.

Officers a short time later saw Carter slumped over in the backseat and covered in blood, according to the report, which concluded he had managed to conceal a handgun with which he shot himself. He later died at a hospital, and the report listed his death as a suicide.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.

  • George Hickman
    Next Story:

    Tuskegee airman George Hickman dies in US at 88

  • Chad 'Ochocinco' Johnson watches the Miami Heat play against the Chicago Bulls in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2011 NBA Playoffs on May 24, 2011 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
    Previous Story:

    Former employee sues Chad Johnson; house facing foreclosure

Filed in: News | Related Topics: Autopsy, Chavis Carter, Handcuffed Suicide, Jonesboro, Suicide, The Chavis Carter Case
  • Learn about our User Panel

    Read More
  • New Stories on theGrio

    • Phil Jackson would pick Bill Russell to start a team with Phil Jackson would pick Bill Russell to start a team with
    • Mary J. Blige faces $3.4M tax lien Mary J. Blige faces $3.4M tax lien
    • Mother has son arrested for stealing her Pop-Tarts Mother has son arrested for stealing her Pop-Tarts
    • Morgan Freeman falls asleep during live interview Morgan Freeman falls asleep during live interview
    • ‘Rent is Too Damn High’ guy: ‘Anthony Weiner is a freak!’
    • 84-year-old NM woman indicted for drug trafficking
    • Anti-war protester shouts at Obama during speech
    • Obama defends his drone policy
  • What Your Friends Are Reading

  • More from theGrio

More Stories on theGrio

Top News

Politics

  • Michelle Obama (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

    First lady makes Forbes' 'Most Powerful Women'

  • GOP leaders say Obama impeachment talk premature

  • Desiree Rogers appointed to Choose Chicago Board

  • Obama pledges urgent aid to Oklahoma town

» Read More in Politics

Business

  • An elderly black couple. © poco_bw – Fotolia.com

    Black Americans retiring earlier, with less savings

  • BlackStartup.com seeks to uplift black businesses

  • Payday loans: A debt trap in disguise

  • Tiger Woods makes a comeback on the course, and in video game sales

» Read More in Business

Living

  • A black couple on vacation

    Memorial Day staycation hotspots!

  • Worst foods for high blood pressure

  • Autism Speaks launches new campaign for Latino, black parents

  • The breast cancer genetic test folks are talking about

» Read More in Living

Inspiration

  • Television journalist Robin Roberts poses with her Peabody at the 72nd Annual Peabody Awards at the Waldorf-Astoria on Monday, May 20, 2013 in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)

    Robin Roberts to write memoir about illness

  • Charlotte remembers 1963 desegregation 'eat-in'

  • Tornado survivor saved by teacher

  • Obama speech makes Morehouse grads 'proud'

» Read More in Inspiration

Entertainment

  • Paris Hilton (Getty Images)

    Cash Money Records signs Paris Hilton?

  • Comedians pay tribute to 'Bill Cosby: Himself' 30 years later

  • Ray J a 'huge fan' of Kanye West

  • Darius Rucker responds to racist tweet from country fan

» Read More in Entertainment

News

  • Protestors march outside of the Bank of America building in the Loop Financial district calling on the banking giant to renegotiate interest rate swap deals with the Chicago Public Schools on May 7, 2013 in Chicago, Illinois. The financially strapped Chicago public school system plans to close more than 50 schools at the end of this school year. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)

    Chicago Board of Ed votes to close 50 schools

  • Funeral program for Malcolm Shabazz released

  • Geno Smith signs with Jay-Z's'Roc Nation Sports

  • Attorney: Donald Trump lied on stand

» Read More in News

Main menu

Skip to primary content
Skip to secondary content
  • Politics
  • Living
  • Video
  • Inspire
  • Health
  • Entertainment
  • News
  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • Advertise with TheGrio
  • About
©2013 NBCUniversal
Powered by WordPress.com VIP