Eric Garner’s Daughter in Coma After Heart Attack

The oldest daughter of Eric Garner — who has become an advocate against police brutality since her dad’s death — suffered a heart attack Saturday night and was in critical condition on Christmas Eve, family members told the Daily News.

Erica Garner, whose father died in 2014 when NYPD Officer Daniel Pantaleo placed him in a chokehold on Staten Island, was on life support in ICU in a Brooklyn hospital, the family said.  The 27-year-old mother of two is unable to breathe on her own, family said.  Esaw Snipes-Garner, Erica’s mother, told The News her daughter’s condition was grave but the family hadn’t given up hope.

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“(She) is still with us. She’s fighting,” the mom said.  Snipes-Garner said her daughter’s cardiac arrest was brought on by an asthma attack Saturday night.  Erica, already the mom of an 8-year-old daughter, gave birth to a boy in August, Snipes-Garner said.  She named him Eric, after her dad, family said.

Garner's mom calls on officials to push chokehold cop punishment. After that pregnancy, Erica suffered a first cardiac arrest a few months ago, her mother said.  The pregnancy had put a strain on her heart, which doctors discovered was enlarged — a condition Erica had not been aware of, her mother said.  As for the current crisis, Snipes-Garner said it’s a waiting game for the mother of two, filled with family prayers and loving support.

Eric Garner (pictured) died in 2014 when NYPD Officer Daniel Pantaleo placed him in a chokehold on Staten Island. (ACQUIRED BY: TOMAS E. GASTON).  “She’s not doing well and we’re praying,” Snipes-Garner told The News.  Erica's foster mother, Tanya Goode, left the Brooklyn hospital in tears late on Christmas Eve, flanked by two of Erica's brothers and a sister-in-law.  “I was here last night and I’ve been here all day today," Goode told The News.

   "Erica is on life support. She can’t breathe on her own. So, she’s not doing well," a distraught Goode said.  Erica’s sister, Emerald Snipes, shared her fears on Facebook Sunday.  “My sister had another heart attack last night and she’s in critical condition,” Snipes wrote.  “I just left the hospital and it’s not looking good. ... I pray she makes it; she has two little ones to live for,” the sister said.

   She also noted that the family was having a hard time handling the holiday in light of what was going on.  “Don’t even feel like Christmas but I gotta fake smile for my baby,” Snipes posted later on Facebook.  “Erica better get better soon. She get on my last nerve but I’d rather fight with my sister then to lose her,” she wrote.  Erica Garner has become an advocate against police brutality since her dad’s death. (SUSAN WATTS/NEW YORK DAILY NEWS)

    Late on Christmas Eve, someone who said they worked for Erica Garner tweeted from her account."  She is in a coma ... I'll tweet updates as I have them. Please pray for Erica right now," the person wrote.   In the wake of her father’s death, Erica Garner became a vocal advocate against police brutality — especially after a Staten Island grand jury declined to indict Pantaleo.


Erica has also blasted former President Obama for the Justice Department’s slow investigation of her father’s death. That federal probe is still open.  She has also chastised Mayor de Blasio for not releasing Pantaleo’s disciplinary record and for allowing the cop to collect more than $23,000 on modified duty in fiscal year 2016.  Just days ago, Erica was posting messages on Facebook about Christmas shopping and loving her young son.


Her dad Eric Garner died in July 2014 when he clashed with police over the alleged sale of untaxed cigarettes. In September, the city’s Civilian Complaint Review Board recommended the NYPD discipline Pantaleo, who used a banned chokehold while trying to arrest the 43-year-old man.  As he collapsed and died, Garner — who suffered from asthma — helplessly repeated, “I can’t breathe. I can’t breathe,” according to a video first released on nydailynews.com.

Article courtesy of NY Daily News