Six Baltimore officers charged in death; 'No one is above the law,' says top prosecutor.

Byline: Juliet Linderman and Amanda Lee Myers

BALTIMORE -- Saying ''no one is above the law,'' Baltimore's top prosecutor announced charges Friday against six officers in the arrest of a black man whose neck was broken in police custody, a decision that comes amid outrage around the country over police brutality against African-Americans.

State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby declared that Freddie Gray's death was a homicide, his arrest was illegal, and his treatment amounted to murder and manslaughter. She detailed what happened to Gray during his arrest and his nearly 45-minute ride in a police wagon, contradicting what police have said on some points and shedding far more light on what happened during his fatal journey.

Gray carried a legal pocket knife, she said, not the illegal switchblade that an officer described under penalty of perjury. And officers repeatedly denied Gray's requests for medical attention, even when he said he couldn't breathe. At one point, he was shackled at the legs, handcuffed behind his back, and put back into the wagon on his stomach.

At another stop, an officer ''spoke to the back of Mr. Gray's head,'' and even though he was unresponsive, made ''no effort to look or assess or determine his condition,'' Mosby said.

''The findings of our comprehensive, thorough and independent investigation, coupled with the medical examiner's determination that Mr. Gray's death was a homicide,'' Mosby said, ''has led us to believe that we have probable cause to file criminal charges.''

Onlookers cheered shouted ''Justice!'' during Mosby's announcement. Few expected such quick action. The city, which saw looting and businesses and cars burned on Monday, remains under a nighttime curfew, with National Guard troops and police out in full force and huge protests expected Friday and Saturday.

More than 200 people have been arrested and nearly 100 officers injured in the unrest following Gray's funeral.

Malik Shabazz, the president of Black Lawyers for Justice, says Saturday's protest march will now be a ''victory rally,'' and said Mosby is ''setting a standard for prosecutors all over the nation.''

Mosby announced the charges less than a day after receiving the results of an internal police investigation and the autopsy report.

''Mr. Gray suffered a severe and critical neck injury as a result of being handcuffed, shackled by his feet and unrestrained inside of the BPD wagon,'' she said.

The stiffest charge --- second-degree ''depraved...