|
 Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said there was "insufficient
evidence" to pursue charges against the officer, Richard Haste. His
statement marked the end of an investigation into the death of
Ramarley Graham, 18, who was shot inside the bathroom of his Bronx
apartment after being followed by police officers.
The evidence in the Feb. 2, 2012, shooting indicated that Haste
believed Graham had a firearm and was reaching for it, Bharara's
office said.
Bharara's statement came shortly after he met with Graham's parents,
Constance Malcolm and Frank Graham, who held a news conference along
with more than a dozen supporters outside the U.S. attorney's
offices after the meeting.
Malcolm called the decision a "slap in the face," saying Haste
"murdered my son."
 "Same as usual, black life doesn't matter," Frank Graham said,
adding that they would push for Haste's termination.
The New York Police Department said it would proceed with an
internal disciplinary process.
Haste's lawyer, Stuart London, said that while there were "no
winners," Haste was "gratified" that he would not face prosecution.
Bharara's announcement comes amid heightened attention on excessive
use of force by police against minorities.
New York City police officer Peter Liang was convicted of
manslaughter last month for his shooting of an unarmed black man,
28-year-old Akai Gurley.
[to top of second column] |
In 2014, a grand jury declined to charge a New York City officer in
the chokehold death of another unarmed black man, Eric Garner,
sparking nationwide protests. A federal investigation is ongoing.
Haste was indicted by a grand jury in the Bronx on state
manslaughter charges in June 2012. A judge dismissed the indictment,
finding that the grand jury received improper instructions.
Police have said that several officers who had seen Graham on the
street - including Haste - suspected he had a gun because of the way
he moved his hands near his waist.
Haste and a partner followed Graham to his apartment building and
kicked down his apartment door. Haste shot Graham in the chest in a
bathroom, police said.
In January 2015, New York City agreed to pay $3.9 million to resolve
a federal lawsuit by the Graham family over the killing.
(Editing by Alan Crosby and Matthew Lewis)
[© 2016 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2016 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
