A Staten Island grand jury decided on Wednesday not to indict white New York City police Officer David Pantaleo, the man who placed unarmed black man Eric Garner in a chokehold during an arrest last summer.
According to ABC News, Attorney General Eric Holder has announced that the Justice Department will be pushing through with a federal civil rights investigation into the death of Garner, 43.
In his statement, Holder said that the Justice Department will conduct an "independent, thorough, fair and expeditious investigation." He continued to emphasize that "all lives must be valued, all lives."
The case, which has received massive attention, comes on the heels of the Ferguson, Missouri protests. The protests stem from the death of Michael Brown, an unarmed, black teenager, during a confrontation with a Darren Wilson, a Ferguson Police Officer.
The attorney general highlighted the importance of healing "the breakdown of trust" and went on to call for peaceful demonstrations.
"I urge all those inclined to demonstrate tonight and in the days ahead to remain peaceful in their demonstrations, and not to engage in activities that deflect our attention from the very serious matters our nation must confront" said Holder.
CNN recalled how a video, shot by an onlooker, has been circulating online. Garner -- suspected of selling cigarettes illegally -- raised both his hands during the encounter, told officers to leave him alone and refused to be handcuffed. Pantaleo is seen wrapping his arm around Garner's neck, a man who had asthma, and putting him into a chokehold.
"I can't breathe! I can't breathe!" muffled Garner repeatedly as he was forced onto the pavement and rolled onto his stomach.
Mashable reported that a second video has surfaced, this time "showing Garner handcuffed and unresponsive on the ground as officers and paramedics stood around him. He later was pronounced dead at a hospital from cardiac arrest."
Garner's death on July 17, the same day as the encounter, has been ruled a homicide. Per the city's medical examiner's office, Garner died of "compression of neck (chokehold), compression of chest and prone positioning during physical restraint by police."
CNN further shared that New York City Police Department rules and protocols prohibit the use of chokeholds.
In a statement issued Wednesday via ABC News' Twitter account, Pantaleo said he feels bad about the death of Garner and offered his condolences to his family.
Officer involved in death of Eric Garner: "It is never my intention to harm anyone and I feel very bad" - pic.twitter.com/oIjKP6JjMb
— ABC News (@ABC) December 3, 2014
President Barack Obama has spoken about the case recognizing reactions from the public will be strong, reported USA Today. In his statement, he mentioned the on-going issues between minorities and law enforcement.
"This is an issue that we've been dealing with for too long, and it's time for us to make more progress than we've made. And I'm not interested in talk, I'm interested in action," said the President.
