Obama sends aide to Freddie Gray’s funeral

WASHINGTON — The White House says the head of President Barack Obama’s initiative for minority males will attend the funeral of a Baltimore man who died after sustaining serious injuries while in police custody.

Broderick Johnson, the chairman of the My Brother’s Keeper Task Force, will represent the administration at Monday’s funeral for Freddie Gray. Johnson is also the Cabinet secretary.

Gray is the 25-year-old black man who died a week after an encounter with Baltimore police left him with grave spinal injuries. He is being buried Monday in Baltimore.

The White House said Sunday night that Johnson, a Baltimore native, will be accompanied by two other officials.

Mourners paid their respects before Gray’s coffin on Sunday, after a night of violent protests led to nearly three dozen arrests.

DARLENE SUPERVILLE, Associated Press