Freddie Gray's death led to Baltimore riots (Photo : REUTERS/JOSE LUIS MAGANA)
Freddie Gray's family does not support the Baltimore riots. In fact, Gray's mother Gloria Darden, is urging the protesters to stop the riots that plagued Baltimore, Md., on April 27, Monday.
Gray, 25, is the African-American Baltimore man who died of a severe spinal cord injury after being arrested by the police on April 12 in West Baltimore for possession of a switchblade. During his funeral, protesters looted stores and smashed police cars leaving seven injured.
"Don't tear up the whole city just for him. That's wrong," said Gray's mother who wants justice for her son but does not want protesters not to "do it like this," NBC News reported.
Gray's stepfather Richard Shipley also said he is "really appalled" to see that "it turned into all this violence and destruction."
Police said people responsible for the Baltimore riots during which rocks and bricks were hurled at police officers during Gray's funeral shall be jailed.
"They have broken bones, one of them is unresponsive. This is not okay," said Baltimore police Capt. Eric Kowalczyk, who also noted that they will find the people who are responsible and will put them in jail, The Huffington Post reported.
Noting that police would respond to bring the Baltimore riots under control, Kowalczyk said, "You're gonna see tear gas, you're gonna see pepper balls."
Gray's death sparked controversy involving racism and police brutality because he had experienced a "medical emergency," as described by the police, within an hour of his arrest while being transported. He had fallen into coma before dying on April 19.
It is still unclear what led to Gray's lethal injuries.
