Autopsy commissioned by George Floyd's family shows that he passed away due to asphyxiation

An autopsy on George Floyd's body commissioned by his family determined that "asphyxiation from sustained pressure was the cause" of Floyd's death in an incident that has sparked tense protests and violence across the nation.

Dr. Michael Baden and Dr. Allecia Wilson performed the autopsy and said there was "neck and back compression that led to a lack of blood flow to the brain. They added that "weight on the back, handcuffs and positioning were contributory factors because they impaired the ability of Mr. Floyd’s diaphragm to function."

Floyd, 46, died May 25 after a Minneapolis police officer knelt on Floyd's neck for several minutes while he was handcuffed on the ground, crying that he couldn't breathe and pleading for help.

The results of the family's autopsy differ from a preliminary autopsy report as described in a criminal complaint against the officer charged in Floyd's death, Derek Chauvin, which was released last week.

On Monday evening, Minneapolis police arrested Floyd because he allegedly matched the description of someone who attempted to pass off a counterfeit $20 bill at a store to buy cigarettes.