After reading a lengthy decision, Judge Barry Williams found Officer Caesar Goodson not guilty on all counts.
Williams said the state failed to prove Goodson's intent to hurt Freddie Gray as the driver of the police van.
This is the second acquittal delivered in the cases surrounding 25-year-old Gray's death. Goodson is the third of six officers to stand trial. The trial of Officer William Porter ended in a mistrial.
As news of the not-guilty verdict spread, community members, observers, activists and leaders took to social media to react:
Several scenarios of how and when #FreddieGray was injured, leads Judge Williams to acquittal in #GoodsonTrial. pic.twitter.com/avXttrY8Iu
— Mariam Khan (@MKhan47) June 23, 2016
The reason court prohibits cameras. Powerful #BetsyKirk Court Sketch. "Officer Nero hugging Goodson" #GoodsonTrial pic.twitter.com/5LdJHpXAfX
— Erick Ferris (@erick_ferris) June 23, 2016
No justice no peace. We will continue to disrupt this system that murders our people w no accountability. #FreddieGray #GoodsonTrial
— Alonzo Introspekt (@_introspekt) June 23, 2016
No words man...#FreddieGray #GoodsonTrial ?
— Anthony Smith (@ant_theOreo) June 23, 2016
Rawlings-Blake and Mosby mortgaged their careers over a career criminal. The ultimate case of when keeping it real goes wrong #GoodsonTrial
— Jeff (@balls_26) June 23, 2016
I'm sorry but I don't think Goodson tried to kill (or because of neglect killed) #FreddieGray #GoodsonTrial
— Neci (@TruLoveRoyal) June 23, 2016
Read my statement on today's verdict in the #GoodsonTrial: https://t.co/aWLwyP7I2F
— Elijah E. Cummings (@RepCummings) June 23, 2016
Gray's death is a tragedy not found to be a crime in court, but a wakeup call for Baltimore. Not a day of rejoice for anybody. #GoodsonTrial
— NAACP (@NAACP) June 23, 2016
Another officer found not guilty! Forever standing behind that all the officers are innocent #GoodsonTrial #FreddieGray
— Chris Broussard (@emtman14) June 23, 2016
Now, don't suddenly tell me protest is bad re: #FreddieGray when you've been cheering on #NoBillNoBreak for the past 20 hours.
— deray mckesson (@deray) June 23, 2016
My statement on the judge's decision in the criminal trial of Officer Caesar Goodson #GoodsonTrial pic.twitter.com/t9TYH0MHwF
— Mayor Rawlings-Blake (@MayorSRB) June 23, 2016
at the end of the day. they know what they did and its going to eat them alive. #GoodsonTrial
— royal farms chicken (@NickkJagger) June 23, 2016
So I guess the #GoodsonTrial verdict means that the BPD are really terribly trained or just wholly incompetent? Both are unsettling.
— Kyle probably (@BadSonicNinja) June 23, 2016
The fact that none of the three officers tried so far have been convicted of 1 charge, is not only an injustice it is immoral. #FreddieGray
— Kwame Rose (@kwamerose) June 23, 2016
