Ramarley Graham, 18, was shot and killed by an NYPD cop in Williamsbridge section of The Bronx Feb. 2 afternoon, after entering an apartment as undercover officers pursued him. Police spokesman Paul J. Browne said there was "no evidence that he was armed" when the narcotics officer shot him once in the upper left chest. Officers found a small bag of cannabis in the toilet at the home he entered after the pursuit. He was killed in the bathroom, apparently while trying to dispose of the stash. Police said they had followed him after witnessing a drug purchase (presumably cannabis), and said they thought he had a gun.
Graham's devastated grandmother, Patricia Hartley, 58, was held for seven hours at the 47th Precinct stationhouse after the shooting, where she was questioned for over five hours by cops and representatives from the District Attorney's office. The revelation further fueled community outrage.
Graham was the third person the NYPD had killed in a week. On Jan. 26, an off-duty police lieutenant shot a 22-year-old carjacking suspect in Cypress Hills, Brooklyn. On Jan. 29, an off-duty detective shot an unarmed 17-year-old in Bushwick, Brooklyn, apparently during a mugging. (Huffington Post, Feb. 7; DNAinfo, Feb. 5; Colorlines, Feb. 3; CBS New York, Jan. 30)
An angry crowd of some 500 protesters gathered Feb. 6 outside of the Bronx residence where Graham was shot. "We are human beings. Stop treating us like animals," Frank Graham, the slain teen's father, told the crowd. "My son did nothing wrong. I want justice for my son, my baby."
Juanita Young, 57, the mother of Malcolm Ferguson, a 23-year-old who was killed by an NYPD narcotics officer in 2000, joined in the rally to show solidarity with Graham's parents. (NY Daily News, Feb. 6)
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Another cannabis-related NYPD killing
A 51-year-old man who has not yet been identified was shot dead by police near Times Square Aug. 11. Police apparently stopped him for smoking a joint, and he responded by fleeing and then, when cornered at 37th St and 7th Ave., pulling a six-inch kitchen knife. He reportedly refused orders to drop the knife, but lunged at the officers, precipitating his own death. (NYT, Aug. 11)
OK, the guy was clearly disturbed. But the whole thing could have been avoided—including bullets flying in the most crowded part of the city on a Saturday afternoon—if the cops had let him smoke his joint in peace.
Just sayin'.
East Flatbush riot over police killing
Anger over a fatal police shooting over the weekend sparked a protest in East Flatbush March 11. What began as a candle-light march of more than 100 exploded into violence as some youth threw bottles, and police responded in riot gear. One person was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct.
Police say Kimani "Kiki" Gray, 16, pulled out a handgun and pointed it at authorities late the night of March 9 before two plainclothes officers fired 11 rounds.
Questions have been raised about whether Kiki was really armed. But City Councilman Jumaane Williams said the incident was about systemic oppression. He said: "It's not about one shooting and the detail of that particular shooting. There's a feeling of disrespect that's gone on for many, many years. Many of us have been saying we need to engage more with the police department, engage more with the mayors. Instead of listening to us, they push back, and this is what's happening here." (NY1, Village Voice, March 12)
New developments in East Flatbush case
Amid continued protests in East Flatbush, it emerges from the Daily News March 15 that:
Significantly, neither of the officers were in uniform at the time of the incident, so even if Gray had a gun, he might not have known he was aiming it at police. And did he have a gun? Blogs Sophie Lewis on In These Times:
East Flatbush intifada spreads to Queens
From the Daily News, April 6:
No charges for NYPD officer who shot Ramarley Graham
Richard Haste, the NYPD officer who shot unarmed teenager Ramarley Graham last year, will not be tried for manslaughter after a Bronx grand jury declined to indict the officer. This comes after an earlier indictment was thrown out by a judge last May after an error was made by the Bronx DA's office. (Gothamist, Aug. 8)
Feds to review Ramarley Graham case
Federal prosecutors said Aug. 8 they will review the case of Ramarley Graham to determine if his civil rights were violated. The announcement by the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York capped a day of demonstrations in protest of a Bronx grand jury’s decision not to indict NYPD Officer Richard Haste for fatally shooting the 18-year-old last year. (Daily News, Aug. 8)