Videos document Garner's last moments - CNN

Videos document Garner's last moments

By Susanna Capelouto, CNN

Updated 0030 GMT (0830 HKT) December 9, 2014

Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant, center, warms up before an NBA basketball game against the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday, December 9, in Los Angeles. The team wore "I Can't Breathe" shirts during warm-ups in support of the family of Eric Garner. Since a grand jury declined to indict a New York police officer in the death of Garner, demonstrators across the country have taken to the streets to express their outrage. Garner, a 43-year-old asthmatic, died in July after he was put in a chokehold by the officer, Daniel Pantaleo.
Photos: Protests after Eric Garner grand jury decision
Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant, center, warms up before an NBA basketball game against the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday, December 9, in Los Angeles. The team wore "I Can't Breathe" shirts during warm-ups in support of the family of Eric Garner. Since a grand jury declined to indict a New York police officer in the death of Garner, demonstrators across the country have taken to the streets to express their outrage. Garner, a 43-year-old asthmatic, died in July after he was put in a chokehold by the officer, Daniel Pantaleo.
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Protesters gather in front of the Barclays Center during an NBA game in New York on Monday, December 8.
Photos: Protests after Eric Garner grand jury decision
Protesters gather in front of the Barclays Center during an NBA game in New York on Monday, December 8.
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Police clash with demonstrators at the entrance of a Target near the Barclays Center on December 8.
Photos: Protests after Eric Garner grand jury decision
Police clash with demonstrators at the entrance of a Target near the Barclays Center on December 8.
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Seven-year-old Elijah Owens, left, stands by people participating in a "die-in" demonstration outside the Philadelphia Eagles' stadium in Philadelphia on Sunday, December 7.
Photos: Protests after Eric Garner grand jury decision
Seven-year-old Elijah Owens, left, stands by people participating in a "die-in" demonstration outside the Philadelphia Eagles' stadium in Philadelphia on Sunday, December 7.
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People protest in the streets of Chicago on December 7.
Photos: Protests after Eric Garner grand jury decision
People protest in the streets of Chicago on December 7.
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Demonstrators retreat in Berkeley, California, after police deploy tear gas during a <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2014/12/07/justice/protests-grand-jury-chokehold/index.html">protest that turned violent</a> before dawn on December 7.
Photos: Protests after Eric Garner grand jury decision
Demonstrators retreat in Berkeley, California, after police deploy tear gas during a protest that turned violent before dawn on December 7.
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A police officer in Berkeley clashes with a protester on December 7.
Photos: Protests after Eric Garner grand jury decision
A police officer in Berkeley clashes with a protester on December 7.
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A police officer raises a shotgun toward the crowd in Berkeley on Saturday, December 6.
Photos: Protests after Eric Garner grand jury decision
A police officer raises a shotgun toward the crowd in Berkeley on Saturday, December 6.
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People in Los Angeles lie down during a "die-in" on Hollywood Boulevard on December 6.
Photos: Protests after Eric Garner grand jury decision
People in Los Angeles lie down during a "die-in" on Hollywood Boulevard on December 6.
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Police stand guard as protesters participate in a "die-in" December 6 at Grand Central Station in New York.
Photos: Protests after Eric Garner grand jury decision
Police stand guard as protesters participate in a "die-in" December 6 at Grand Central Station in New York.
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Protesters shut down all eastbound and westbound lanes on Interstate 195, which links Miami Beach to the mainland, on Friday, December 5.
Photos: Protests after Eric Garner grand jury decision
Protesters shut down all eastbound and westbound lanes on Interstate 195, which links Miami Beach to the mainland, on Friday, December 5.
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Demonstrators march through the Loop in Chicago on December 5.
Photos: Protests after Eric Garner grand jury decision
Demonstrators march through the Loop in Chicago on December 5.
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Protesters block an intersection in downtown Washington on December 5.
Photos: Protests after Eric Garner grand jury decision
Protesters block an intersection in downtown Washington on December 5.
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Demonstrators march through a Macy's in Manhattan before staging a "die-in" at the iconic department store on December 5.
Photos: Protests after Eric Garner grand jury decision
Demonstrators march through a Macy's in Manhattan before staging a "die-in" at the iconic department store on December 5.
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Police make an arrest as protesters march through Manhattan early on December 5.
Photos: Protests after Eric Garner grand jury decision
Police make an arrest as protesters march through Manhattan early on December 5.
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Police officers form a line with demonstrations under way in Oakland, California, on Thursday, December 4.
Photos: Protests after Eric Garner grand jury decision
Police officers form a line with demonstrations under way in Oakland, California, on Thursday, December 4.
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A demonstrator gets arrested during a protest in New York on December 4.
Photos: Protests after Eric Garner grand jury decision
A demonstrator gets arrested during a protest in New York on December 4.
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Police detain a protester in New York on December 4.
Photos: Protests after Eric Garner grand jury decision
Police detain a protester in New York on December 4.
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Demonstrators gather in New York's Foley Square on December 4.
Photos: Protests after Eric Garner grand jury decision
Demonstrators gather in New York's Foley Square on December 4.
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Police officers in New York staff a barricade at a Brooklyn Bridge exit ramp on December 4.
Photos: Protests after Eric Garner grand jury decision
Police officers in New York staff a barricade at a Brooklyn Bridge exit ramp on December 4.
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Demonstrators march across the Brooklyn Bridge on December 4.
Photos: Protests after Eric Garner grand jury decision
Demonstrators march across the Brooklyn Bridge on December 4.
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"Black Lives Matter" is written across the cheek of Samaria Muhammad as she chants with fellow protesters in Atlanta on December 4.
Photos: Protests after Eric Garner grand jury decision
"Black Lives Matter" is written across the cheek of Samaria Muhammad as she chants with fellow protesters in Atlanta on December 4.
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Demonstrators block the entrance to the Lincoln Tunnel in New York on Wednesday, December 3.
Photos: Protests after Eric Garner grand jury decision
Demonstrators block the entrance to the Lincoln Tunnel in New York on Wednesday, December 3.
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Protesters lie down in Grand Central Station on December 3.
Photos: Protests after Eric Garner grand jury decision
Protesters lie down in Grand Central Station on December 3.
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A demonstrator cries at a protest in Philadelphia on December 3.
Photos: Protests after Eric Garner grand jury decision
A demonstrator cries at a protest in Philadelphia on December 3.
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Demonstrators block traffic on Interstate 395 in Washington on December 3.
Photos: Protests after Eric Garner grand jury decision
Demonstrators block traffic on Interstate 395 in Washington on December 3.
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A woman speaks during a demonstration in Oakland on December 3.
Photos: Protests after Eric Garner grand jury decision
A woman speaks during a demonstration in Oakland on December 3.
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Police officers stand guard in New York's Times Square on December 3.
Photos: Protests after Eric Garner grand jury decision
Police officers stand guard in New York's Times Square on December 3.
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Protesters rally near Rockefeller Center during a ceremony to light the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree in New York.
Photos: Protests after Eric Garner grand jury decision
Protesters rally near Rockefeller Center during a ceremony to light the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree in New York.
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Protesters face off with police in Oakland.
Photos: Protests after Eric Garner grand jury decision
Protesters face off with police in Oakland.
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Demonstrators lie in the streets of St. Louis on December 3.
Photos: Protests after Eric Garner grand jury decision
Demonstrators lie in the streets of St. Louis on December 3.
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Story highlights

  • Cell phone videos chronicle the events leading up to Eric Garner's death
  • They show no CPR being performed and a calm scene around an unresponsive Garner
  • Garner accuses officers of harassing him and says: "This stops today"
  • Garner was pronounced dead that day after being restrained by police
A lesser known cell-phone video of the aftermath of the arrest of Eric Garner gives new insight into events leading up to his death.
The video shows a dying man lying on the street for more than 6 minutes as officers calmly wait for an ambulance, showing no sign of urgency.
When a witness asks why they're not performing CPR, an officer says "he's still breathing."
A separate more-circulated cell-phone video shows Garner upset and frustrated with perceived harassment by police officers who then react to his lack of cooperation with force.
After Garner: What's the point of police body cameras?
The fatal encounter July 17 on Staten Island started when officers confronted Garner, because they suspected him of selling cigarettes illegally.
"I didn't do s***t, I'm minding my own business," Garner is heard telling a police officer in one video.
"What did I do? Who did I sell cigarettes to?" he asks the officer.
The officer points up the street and Garner gets more frustrated.
"Every time you see me, you want to arrest me. I'm tired of it. This stops today," Garner says.
Rand Paul blames Eric Garner's death on high NYC cigarette tax
Garner, 43, was pronounced dead that day.
As four police officers held him down, he's heard saying "I can't breathe," eight times.
His death was later ruled a homicide, but a grand jury decided not to indict police officer Daniel Pantaleo who had performed a chokehold on Garner.
U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder announced that federal officials were moving ahead with a civil rights investigation into Garner's death.
Eric Garner: The haunting last words of a dying man