George Floyd Didn’t Die From a Fentanyl Overdose
The Claim
George Floyd died from an opioid overdose, rather than police brutality.
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Emerging story
On August 19, 2020, Fox published an opinion piece in which the attorney of Thomas Lane – one of the police officers allegedly involved in the killing of George Floyd – asserts that the victim had taken a fatal dose of fentanyl while in the backseat of a police car.
The claim was soon picked up by users on social media.
Misbar’s Analysis
Our investigation found that several articles were published with similar misleading headlines. Many of them merely summarized what Lane’s attorney, Earl Grey, alleged without providing context.
Grey bases this argument on two things: the toxicology report in Floyd’s autopsy, and one of the officer’s bodycam. One autopsy revealed that Floyd did have traces of fentanyl in his system. However, the autopsy also ruled that Floyd’s death was the result of homicide due to sustained asphyxiation, due to the police kneeling on the victim’s neck. This was further shown by an additional autopsy.
Footage from the body cam, Grey argues, shows that a white spot disappears on Floyd’s tongue. He states that this could fentanyl and that it looks like a fatal dose. This is not enough evidence to make any solid conclusions, especially since the cause of death was already ruled as a result of homicide. Grey’s allegations have no basis, despite being spread across social media.
