Matthew Ellis speaks at a vigil at the intersection where his brother, Manuel Ellis, a 33-year-old black man, died in police custody in Tacoma, Wash.
Jason Redmond/AFP via Getty Images
hide caption
toggle caption
Jason Redmond/AFP via Getty Images
Matthew Ellis speaks at a vigil at the intersection where his brother, Manuel Ellis, a 33-year-old black man, died in police custody in Tacoma, Wash.
Jason Redmond/AFP via Getty Images
The name of Manuel Ellis is now being added to the list of black people who died in police custody, after an autopsy report ruled his death in Tacoma, Wash., was a homicide.
"In the face of longstanding racism and recent national events, we are devastated to have the death of Manuel Ellis become a part of this national conversation," Tacoma Mayor Victoria Woodards said at a news conference about the findings of the Pierce County Medical Examiner's Office.
"Tacoma police say that on March 3, they saw Ellis trying to open the doors of occupied vehicles — and when they approached, he became 'combative,' " Will James of local member station KNKX reports.
