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Gray's Cause of Death, Baltimore's Road to Recovery

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 BALTIMORE – The Baltimore police investigation has concluded Freddie Gray died of injuries sustained while in the police transport van.

According to CNN, the medical examiner has determined Gray died of a fatal injury after being slammed into the back of the police transport van, "apparently breaking his neck; a head injury he sustained matches a bolt in the back of the van."

An attorney for Gray's family says his spine was "80 percent severed in the neck area."

Baltimore police say they will not make their internal report on his death public. Instead it will be filed with state investigators on Friday.

Meanwhile, Baltimore remains a city on edge, trying to restore calm and order after days of riots. Rebuilding won't be easy, but there are those who believe it's worth the fight. 

A stone's throw away from a CVS that went up in flames, businesses showed their determination by picking up the broken pieces and planning to re-open their doors.
    
For others, like seminary student Montrel Haygood, the resolve isn't just about physical things.

"I'm not going anywhere, man! I'm here," Haygood said.

It's about community, hope, and love.

"It encourages me to see surrounding communities come in and flood us with love. I know it's going to be hard work; I know it's not going to be a cake walk from here, but I am encouraged nonetheless," he continued.

Baltimore is affectionately known as "charm city," but it's the unrest and violence of the past week that has drawn media attention and outside protesters. It's also been a call for churches and ministries to offer hope and healing to the community.

Uproar Church, located on the city's outskirts, is one example. With food, prayer, or just a listening ear, its members show their love and support.

"It was absolutely heartbreaking to see a city that so desperately needs Jesus and to see the outcry of a people that feel like they don't have a voice," Uproar Church's Shelby Teague lamented. 

"We serve the invisible God, but I believe He gave the world a visible church," said Uproar Church Pastor James Teague.

Others, like one group of chaplains, traveled a little farther. Within minutes of parking their RV, members of of Billy Graham's Rapid Response Team had three people who prayed the sinner's prayer.

"Never expected that to happen that quick, but God's in control. And that's what we're seeing," team member Al New said.

It's nothing new for them. The ministry to areas of civil unrest was birthed last year in Missouri, after the death of Michael Brown.

"One thing we did learn from Ferguson, from the gang members - we hug people. That's who we are. We love to hug people," New told CBN News.

Others, like Jerry Lebby, are targeting the city's youth, aiming to mentor young men, asking them to don a hat as a reminder of how men used to act.

"It showed men had respect. When you walked into building you took your hat off. But when you stepped back outsides, you put your crown back on," Lebby said.

For Montrel, the efforts of all these different ministries show that something good can come from the bad.

"I'm not going to say it can't get any worse, but I think this is the perfect example for the Lord to show His strength in all of this - to show how powerful He is," Montrel said.

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About The Author

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John
Jessup

John Jessup serves as the main news anchor for CBN, based at the network's news bureau in Washington, D.C. He joined CBN News in September 2003, starting as a national correspondent and then covering the Pentagon and Capitol Hill. His work in broadcast news has earned him several awards in reporting, producing, and coordinating election coverage. While at CBN, John has reported from several places, including Moore, Oklahoma, after the historic EF5 tornado and parts of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas devastated by Hurricane Katrina. He also traveled to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, during the height