NYC Cops Choke A Man To Death — For Selling Untaxed Cigarettes

Mayor de Blasio vows full investigation of 'tragic' death of Eric Garner. Cops said victim was selling untaxed cigarettes, while witnesses say he had just broken up a fight and wasn't selling anything.

Screen capture from video.

By Celeste Katz
Mayor de Blasio on Friday promised a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of Eric Garner after he was taken into police custody in Staten Island.

Garner, 43, a 400-pound, 6-foot-4 asthmatic, died after cops put him in a chokehold and apparently smashed his head onto the sidewalk while cuffing him outside a beauty supply store in Tompkinsville.

The married father and grandfather, who police say had a history of selling untaxed cigarettes, was videotaped screaming that he couldn't breathe as a cadre of officers took him to the ground.

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