Lawyers in a disciplinary case for a police officer accused of killing an unarmed 18-year-old in a New York City home in 2012 agreed Tuesday that the officer had reason to suspect the victim had a gun, but clashed sharply over the officer’s response. Lori Bordonaro reports.
What to Know
- NYPD officer Richard Haste is facing a departmental trial in the shooting death of Ramarley Graham
- Graham was an unarmed black teen shot and killed in front of family members in 2012
- Haste faced no federal or state criminal charges in the case
Lawmakers say they're concerned about the NYPD's handling of the case against a white officer who shot an unarmed black man to death in his own bathroom.
Members of the City Council's Black and Latino Caucus wrote to Mayor de Blasio and Police Commissioner James O'Neill in a letter dated Friday. They questioned why the decision by Officer Richard Haste to fire on 18-year-old Ramarley Graham in 2012 was considered justified.
Haste trailed Graham into his apartment amid a drug investigation and shot him near his grandmother and 6-year-old brother.
Haste testified that he thought he was about to be shot.
The lawmakers also questioned why no misconduct charges were brought for what they say was an expletive-laced tirade Haste unleashed at Graham's grandmother.
