Medical Examiner Says Victim’s Death Was A Homicide Despite Heart Condition

By D.C. Witness Staff - March 8, 2019
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects |

During a murder trial March 7, a medical examiner said that even though a victim’s cause of death was from a genetic heart condition, the manner of his death should still be considered a homicide.

Nathaniel Bryant, 33, is charged with voluntary and involuntary manslaughter for his alleged role in the death of 41-year-old Victor Drummings inside a Quality Inn parking garage on the 1600 block of New York Avenue, NE in 2015.

“If there’s an action that exacerbates a disease, that action is the manner [of death],” said Roger Mitchell, the chief medical examiner of the District of Columbia. 

The examiner said that although the primary cause of Drummings’ death was from atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease,  the fight exacerbated his symptoms. The examiner said if the altercation didn’t happen, Drummings could have continued living with his heart condition. Apparently, one of Drummings’ arteries was 75 percent blocked by built-up plaque.

However, the examiner did acknowledge that alcohol and drug abuse could have all o negatively affected Drummings’ heart, “but there is one cause of death.”

According to the prosecution’s theory, Bryant viciously attacked and beat Drummings until he had a heart attack. But, the defense claims that Bryant was defending himself when Drummings died from a pre-existing heart condition.

The trial is scheduled to continue on March 11.