Right now. This is nbc nightly news. Reporting tonight from baltimore lester holt. Good evening. From the shadow of Baltimore City hall a dramatic week of riots and peaceful protests even like some taking on right now. This culminated today in a swift, stunning announcement from this citys top prosecutor declaring that the death of freddie gray amounted to murder and manslaughter. And charging Six Baltimore Police officers in connection with his death. States attorney Marilyn Mosby saying even grays arrest was illegal. The charges met with both celebrations and accusations of a rush to judgment. We have full coverage starting with nbcs peter alexander. Reporter what followed freddie grays videotaped arrest the Baltimore StatesAttorney Says was homicide. We have probable cause to file criminal charges. Reporter the stunning announcement less than five days after riots ravaged the citys streets. Marilyn mosby says she spoke to grays family this week. I assured his family that no one is above the law and that i would pursue justice on their behalf. Reporter detailing the events of april 12th baltimores chief Prosecutor Says gray never should have been arrested. That a knife found in the 25yearolds pocket was closed and legal. Lieutenant rice officer miller and officer narrow failed to establish probable cause for mr. Grays arrest as no crime had been committed by mr. Gray. Reporter mosby says police repeatedly denied medical attention to gray including when he was arrested complaining he couldnt breathe and asking for an inhaler. Minutes later gray already handcuffed was taken out of the van, placed in leg restraints and loaded back in head first on to the floor. 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. Reporter the van then stops so an officer could check on gray caught by surveillance cameras, but again no medical help. Minutes later mosby says another stop where gray struggling to breathe twice asked for a medic. Mr. Gray at that time requested help and indicated that he could not breathe. Officer porter asked mr. Gray if he needed a medic, at which time mr. Gray indicated at least twice that he was in need of a medic. Reporter by the fourth stop where officers picked up another prisoner the Prosecutor Says gray was unresponsive. Despite mr. Grays seriously deteriorating medical condition no medical assistance was rendered or summoned for mr. Gray at that time by any officer. Reporter exactly 45 minutes after grays arrest she says the van arrived at the Western DistrictPolice Station and a medic was finally called. No longer breathing and suffering cardiac arrest gray was taken to the university of Maryland Shock Trauma Center where he died one week later. The six officers including a lieutenant and a sergeant are all accused of assault and misconduct four are also charged with Involuntary Manslaughter three with false imprisonment. And facing the most serious charges including seconddegree murder the police vans driver officer goodson jr. Who could face 63 years in prison if convicted. Today is a momentous step on the road to justice for freddie. Reporter the police union is demanding a special prosecutor calling mosbys decision an egregious rush to judgment. Let me state on no Uncertain Terms that lieutenant rice and all of the officers involved at all times acted reasonably and in accordance with their training as Baltimore Police officers. We believe that these officers will be vindicated as they have done nothing wrong. Reporter up next a preliminary hearing legal experts tell us it can be very difficult to convict Police Officers. And tonight anticipating the potential for new tensions Baltimore Police lester have ordered all police travel in pairs. All right. Peter, thanks very much. Ron allen is across town where people are reacting to this news a different feeling there tonight than some of the tense scenes we have come to see this week. Reporter at the epicenter of protests not far from where freddie gray lived and died today a huge outpouring of joy and relief. Juan grant, freddie grays brotherinlaw says the fight continues. Are you satisfied . No. No. Reporter youre not satisfied . Far from satisfied. They havent been convicted of anything yet. Reporter but this is a big step. But its a big step. Reporter Pastor Jamal Bryant delivered the eulogy at grays funeral. Absolutely. America is going to be in Shock Therapy tonight to see the mugshots of police on television. Reporter heavily armed police are keeping shields and weapons lowered. Protesters demanding justice and police enforcing a curfew. We witness and this the thing, im hoping were able to do is make baltimore a model for the nation. Reporter but the grievances and mistrust of police run deep. Young men like Tony Washington who admits hes had trouble with the law still doubts the six officers will ever be convicted of a crime. Theyre going to go through with it and then theyre going to say not guilty. Reporter but for this moment now there seems to be a truce between the Community Feeling vindication and the police. Do you think things are going to get better . Of course. Of course its going to get better. You know what goes up must come back down and what goes down goes back up. Reporter it all but continues to be peaceful. There have been no arrests, no confrontations. Remains to be seen whether police will try to enforce a curfew at 10 00 p. M. Again tonight. Lester. Ron allen, thanks. Just a few nights ago here in baltimore on nightly news i noted that there are communities here that feel invisible and unheard, but tonight many in the citys Africanamerican Community believe that has changed. Some going so far as to call the announcement of todays charges historic. The fiveterm u. S. Congressman and former head of the naacp says its an Important Message here in his hometown. I think what it says to them is that not only do we see you, but we hear you. We understand your pain. Were not judging, but we are going to pursue justice. Reporter there are a lot of hard working cops out there who do a tough job every day. Does this send a message that undermines the average cop whos just doing his job out there . This is not an indictment of all police. You know all of us realize that we have good Police Officers men and women who get up every day in their home put on a badge and uniform and go out and patrol our communities. They treat us with respect. They treat us with a sense of dignity. And they treat us with a sense of worth. Unfortunately, those good officers get painted with a broad brush here. Reporter hard to come by but nationwide black americans face higher rates of arrest for many crimes. According to a 2014 analysis by usa today, at least 70 Police Departments from connecticut to california arrested black people at a rate ten times higher than people who are not black. I grew up in these streets. This is family lived across the street here. So ive seen now for 66 years in this city what can happen when things work. And i know personally what happens when they dont. And i know how young people grow up believing that this is just the way its going to be. Reporter families like latish walkers. Have you ever been afraid of the police . What are you afraid of . I dont know. Reporter thats sad. Thats sad. Makes you want to cry because you want your child to be able to walk outside and feel safe and feel like theyre important and that theyre worthy. And theyre afraid of the very people that are supposed to protect them what do you do . You know . How do you tell your child how to behave when theyre not doing anything wrong in the first place . I dont know how to make that go away for him. Reporter and as for the unrest here in baltimore this week latish walker wonders if it made the difference. It was the riot that got the worlds attention. And had it not been for that we dont know we dont know if that put pressure on them. We dont know. And it is not lost on anyone. There are a lot of Police Officers in this city who are hurting tonight as well. They dont want to be known for all this. I encountered some of them grim faced as they stand the police lines around city hall. Asked them how they were doing, a few gave me a thumbs up. A few said were hanging in there. Meantime all eyes tonight focused on the youngest top prosecutor of any major city in america. 35yearold Marilyn Mosby, the daughter and granddaughter of Police Officers that recently elected states attorney of baltimore who is leading the case against these officers. Nbcs Kristen Welker sat down with her late today to discuss her decision. Reporter when Baltimore States attorney Marilyn Mosby stepped into the spotlight today, she stood on the shoulders of a long line of law enforcement. Her mother father and grandfather among many family members who served as Police Officers and influenced her decision to follow them. You spoke to your mom today. I did. Reporter what did she say to you . She said she was proud of me. Reporter at 35 mosby is the youngest chief prosecutor of a major american city. But her age has never stopped her. And today she took on her critics, the fraternal order of critics citing her ties to the family attorney and seat on the Baltimore City council representing the gray family called on her to step aside and appoint an independent special prosecutor. Why not appoint an independent prosecutor. My husband is a Public Servant and so am i. He makes the laws i enforce them. There is no conflict of interest. Reporter and mosby insisted even though people have been protesting grays death in baltimore for days she felt no pressure to rush to judgment. Im a prosecutor. My job is to follow the facts and apply them to the elements of the law. Reporter but this mother of two young girls says she does feel the trust is broken between the community and police. And that fueled the violent night of protests earlier this week. As a mom i was very concerned. This is happening right outside my door. Reporter mosby says now shes focused on letting the Legal Process play out and hopes this moment will help right decades of wrongs. Our time is now to reclaim our communities, to get engaged, to get into the political process. It begins today. Reporter Kristen Welker nbc news baltimore. We want to turn now to a story roaring back into the headlines tonight, the socalled bridgegate scandal involving the office of new jersey governor Chris Christie. The possible payback scheme that caused a traffic jam on the George Washington bridge led to charges for three of the governors former allies. While its not been linked directly to christie it has cast a shadow over his potential run for president. Nbcs Stephanie Gosk has the details. Reporter in september 2013 for four Straight Days the traffic on the George Washington bridge was a nightmare, trapping commuters, school kids and emergency responders. Today, former Port Authority official David Wildstein, a Chris Christie appointee, admitted it was done on purpose. Reduce the access lanes from three to one in order to punish mark the mayor for not reporter he pled guilty to two counts of conspiracy as part of a plea deal while his alleged coconspirators, christies former deputy chief of staff Bridget Anne Kelly and bill baroni indicted on nine federal charges. The indictments allege the trio concocted the plan waited for the first day of school to maximize disruption and then repeatedly ignored the mayors concerns about public safety. Wildstein says he got the order from kelly in an email. Time for some traffic problems in ft. Lee. David wildstein is a liar. Reporter kelly breaking her silence for the first time in 16 months. Both she and baroni deny the charges. I never ordered or conspired with David Wildstein to close or realign lanes at the bridge for any reason. Additionally for the indictment to suggest that i was the only person in the Governors Office who was aware of the George Washington bridge issue is ludicrous ludicrous. Reporter governor christie responded in a statement. Todays charges make clear that what ive said from day one is true. I had no knowledge or planning in the execution of this act. Christie spent the morning in virginia with business leaders. Damage to a possible president ial campaign may be unavoidable. I think this makes a president ial campaign which has already been an uphill battle the climb is now steeper today. Reporter after court wildsteins lawyer was heated a damaging claim. Mr. Christie knew of the lane closures while they were occurring. And evidence exists to establish that. Reporter federal prosecutors say based on the evidence they have gathered during their extensive investigation they are not going to charge anyone else. Stephanie gosk nbc news newark new jersey. Theres a lot more ahead here tonight. The Big Decisions happening all across the country today. Where to go to college and how to pay for it. Well tell you about the new way so many have figured out to cover meet the worlds newest Energy Superpower. Surprised . In fact, america is now the worlds number one natural gas producer. And we could soon become number one in oil. Because Hydraulic Fracturing Technology is safely recovering lots more oil and natural gas. Supporting millions of new jobs. Billions in tax revenue. And a new century of American Energy security. The new Energy Superpower . Its red, white and blue. Log on to learn more. I love making sunday dinners. But when my back hurt, cooking all day. Forget about it. Tylenol was ok, but it was 6 pills a day. But aleve is just 2 pills all day. And now, im back aleve. He says shes undisciplined overwaterer. She claims hes a cruel underwaterer. With miraclegro moisture control potting mix, plants only get water when they need it. Fight ended. Or shifted . Miraclegro. Life starts here. Nexium 24hr. Its the purple pill. The 1 prescribed acid blocking brand. Available without a prescription for frequent heartburn. Get complete protection. Nexium level protectiontm. Your allergies bring more than sneezing. And itchy eyes. They also bring tough nasal congestion. So you need claritind. It starts to work. In just 30 minutes. In fact, nothing works faster. So blow away nasal congestion, fast, with claritind. Own your future is brought to you by voya financial. Changing the way you think about retirement. This is a day to remember for High School Seniors as they choose the next exciting chapters of their lives. Its National College decision day when many announce where theyre going to school while their parents worry about paying for it. Rather than taking out huge loans, some are finding creative new ways to own their futures. Nbcs joe fryer has more. Reporter for music major Shalini Henry John it was hard enough dealing with the death of her father in march. She also had to pay her college 5,000 before graduating this weekend. I remember myself crying before id go to sleep because i didnt know how i was going to save the money for that. Reporter her friend suggested a gofund me page online raising the money needed through donations from friends and strangers. I cant thank them enough. And im beyond words. Im speechless. Reporter go fund me says last year more than 100,000 educational campaigns were created for tuition raising about 13 million. To avoid having to ask online experts say apply for Financial Aid early. States and schools often dolle out money on a first come first serve basis and dont be afraid to ask for more aid if something has changed in your life. A good rule of thumb for a student is they shouldnt take out more in loan debt over their College Courses than theyll make in their first year. Reporter even though she raised enough for the 5,000 payment, she still has about 45,000 in loans. But for now theres reason to celebrate. Daddy, i finally did it. I finally made it. And i know that will make him proud. Reporter joe fryer, nbc news los angeles. Up next tonight, the loss of a legendary singer behind one of the most famous songs of the 20th century. Also a sudden collapse today and emergency at the watergate, one of the music boys . Stop less. Go more. The passat tdi clean diesel with up to 814 hwy miles per tank. Just one reason volkswagen is the 1 selling diesel car brand in america. Ugh. Heartburn. Did someone say burn . Try alka seltzer reliefchews. They work just as fast and taste better than tums smoothies assorted fruit. Mmm. Amazing. Yeah, i get that a lot. Alka seltzer heartburn reliefchews. Enjoy the relief. Man when i got shingles it was something awful. It was lik