The death of another black man, who screamed "I can't breathe" before dying in police custody in Tacoma, Washington, has intensified the conflicts between the police and the protests. Manuel Ellis died as a result of oxygen deprivation and physical restraint on March 3.

The family's attorney told CNN they have an audio recording of the police dispatch where it's possible to hear "I can't breathe" in the background. 

According to a report from Pierce County Medical Examiner's office, the 33-year-old musician and father of two from Tacoma died from respiratory arrest, hypoxia, and physical restraint. The report ruled his death as a homicide

The report also listed methamphetamine intoxication and heart disease as contributing factors.

"We know that Manuel Ellis was one of far, far too many Black men who died while in police custody in America, including here in Washington State. Washingtonians deserve every assurance that investigations and charging decisions related to police shootings and deaths of people in police custody are handled with urgency, independence and commitment to justice," Washington Governor, Jay Inslee, said on Friday.

The Mayor of Tacoma, Victoria Woodards, directed City Manager Elizabeth Pauli to fire the officers involved in the restraint of Ellis on Thursday night. Her order comes as the state and the nation have been roiled by the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Four Minneapolis officers have been arrested and criminally charged.

The officers encountered Ellis on the night of March 3 at an intersection when seeing him banging on the window of another car, Ed Troyer, the spokesman of the Tacoma Police Department said.

Ellis "initiated the confrontation when he picked up a police officer" and appeared to be suffering from some sort of breakdown when the policemen approached him. Then he attacked the officers who were trying to calm him down.

Witness Sara McDowell was in a car behind the officers and saw the arrest, providing a different account.

"I initially thought it was a friendly talk. But suddenly an officer threw open the door of the car and knocked Ellis to the ground," she said in an interview with New York Times on Friday.

Gov. Inslee claimed the state will conduct an independent review of the investigation and any charging decisions related to Manuel Ellis' death.

Tacoma police union representatives said they worried the decision regarding the officers' fate was being made before the investigation is complete and said they're confident since evidence will prove the four officers did no wrong.

"Without any facts, without an investigation, without due process, and with less than a minute of short, blurry, partial Twitter videos in hand, the mayor passed judgment on the actions of four Tacoma Police Officers," the union wrote in a statement.

In another development on Friday, a 35-year-old black man in federal prison in New York City died after he became "disruptive" and guards used pepper spray, according to CNN. 

(With inputs from agencies)