Activists Demand Cops Be Fired After Teen’s Shooting Death

By PRISCILLA PEREZ

Community supporters of the Black Lives Matter movement demanded the firing of a group of Bronx police officers Thursday, following the U.S. attorney’s decision to close a case with no charges filed in the death of a unarmed black teen shot in the bathroom of his apartment.

Officer Richard Haste fatally shot unarmed Ramarley Graham, 18, in February 2012 in his Bronx home in front of his grandmother and six-year-old brother. The case closed earlier this week after U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara stated that there was “insufficient evidence to meet the high burden of proof required for a federal criminal civil rights prosecution.”

“We are tired, it’s been four years and I still don’t have any answers as to why my son is dead,” said Constance Malcolm, mother of Ramarley Graham at the steps of City Hall.

Supporters, including New York City councilmembers, and leaders of various activist groups called on the internal investigation by police, in the hope of firing Officer Haste and other officers involved.

Later, Police Commissioner Bill Bratton said a departmental investigation was already underway.

Robert Cornegy Jr., chairman of the Black Latino, and Asian Caucus, BLAC, also presented a letter to Bratton, calling the investigation “critical to maintain the integrity of our legal system, to ensure that New Yorkers remain confident that their lives are protected and valued by the NYPD, and to set the example within the Department that police misconduct will not be tolerated.” BLAC met with Bratton in January, urging for the investigation to take place following one by the Department of Justice, which started back in September 2014.

“We’re demanding today, now that the federal investigation is over, and much not to our liking, we demand an immediate internal investigation on these officers,” Cornegy said.

While Officer Haste was placed on modified duty and stripped of his service weapon since the incident, public records indicate that he received an almost $25,000 raise from fiscal year 2012 to 2015. According to the Empire Center for Public Policy’s SeeThroughNY database, Haste earned $88,614 in fiscal year 2015.

“When peaceful methods for justice are ignored, violence is inevitable,” Assemblyman Charles Barron said. “And don’t blame me, the social forecaster for forecasting an explosion just as you won’t blame the weather-folk for forecasting a storm.”

Photo shows Assemblyman Charles Barron hugging Ramarley Graham’s mother, Constance Malcolm.