MEMPHIS, TN (abc24.com) - The family of a Southaven man found dead in the back of a Jonesboro police car says the fight for justice is just getting started.
The family disputes an Arkansas State Crime Lab report released Monday that ruled Chavis Carter's death was a suicide.
"My heart is so heavy," Theresa Carter, Carter's mother, said at a prayer vigil Monday night.
More than 100 people attended the vigil outside the National Civil Rights Museum in downtown Memphis.
"He loved life," said LaCharles Winters, Carter's uncle. "Suicide was not even in his vocabulary."
According to the autopsy report, Carter died of a gunshot wound to the head.
The report states: At the time of discharge, the muzzle of the gun was placed against the right temporal scalp.
"I think this rush to judgment, this rush to call it a suicide is a scary thought when you consider what we do with an investigation, which is start with facts and come to a conclusion," said Ben Irwin, a lawyer representing the family.
Carter was arrested following a traffic stop on July 28th. Police say he was searched, handcuffed and searched again.
Minutes later, Carter was found slumped over in the back seat of the patrol car.
"We regret that there are more questions then there are answers," said Denise Vaughn, a Carter family friend.
The Carter family says the search for answers will continue Tuesday in Jonesboro. That's when they're expecting to join a crowd that will march from the site of the traffic stop to city hall.
The march is set for 1 p.m.
