By: Faisal Quyyumi, contributing intern (@_faisalquyyumi)

Sandra Bland was arrested on July 10th in Prairie View, Texas and was eventually found dead in her cell last week. The sheriff’s office has reported the death as suicide but a district attorney then stated that the case would be treated like a murder investigation.

Bland, who was originally pulled over for failure to indicate her turning signal, was aggressively removed from her car by a Texas trooper for refusing to put out her cigarette. Before being yanked from her vehicle, the officer trooper threatened Bland by pointing his stun gun at her and saying, “I will light you up!” On July 13th, at approximately 9:00 a.m., Bland was found dead with a plastic bag by her side, leading sheriff’s to believe that it was self-inflicted asphyxiation. Her family and friends claimed that the last thing they would except her too be is suicidal because the primary reason she was in Texas was to accept a job as a student ambassador at Prairie View A&M University.

This case along with the deaths of Freddie Gray, Trayvon Martin, and Michael Brown have caused an uproar throughout the nation due to inequality correlation of African American victims and Caucasian police officers. Republican Presidential Candidate Donald Trump, who has been known for freely speaking his mind, told CNN anchor Anderson Cooper that the officer was overly aggressive. “I thought it was terrible, to be honest with you. I am a huge fan of the police. I think the police have to be given back power. But this guy was overly aggressive, terribly aggressive.”

Maybe for once, this is something that majority of the nation can agree with Trump on. Texas Governor Greg Abbott stated that everything will be done to properly investigate the case and that “our hearts and prayers remain with the Bland family for their tragic loss. The family deserves answers. The Texas Rangers, working in coordination with the FBI, will conduct a full and thorough investigation that will deliver those answers and work toward the ultimate goal of ensuring justice in this case.”

 

UPDATE: 

As of this morning (July 24), the cause of Sandra Bland’s death has been ruled a suicide by hanging, according to preliminary autopsy reports. Warren Diepraam, a Waller County, Texas, prosecutor, stated in ta press conference that Bland did not have any injuries on her hands nor damages to her trachea or esophagus.

“There were no bite marks or other injuries on her face, on her lips, on her tongue, which would be consistent with a violent struggle,” Diepraam said.

However, Bland’s body sufferd 30 “cut marks” on her left wrist, which were healing. The prosecutor says the lacerations on her wrist are consistent with being handcuffed and struggling.

For more details on the Sandra Bland’s story, visit CNN.com.