Slay-by-cop rage
Kin of Bronx teen: Feds let ’12 case ‘linger’
RAMARLEY Graham’s family has a message for Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara: You’re on notice.
Tuesday marks the fourth anniversary of Graham’s death at the hands of NYPD Officer Richard Haste. The officer chased Graham into his Bronx home, and then fatally shot the unarmed 18-year-old.
While a Bronx grand jury initially indicted Haste in Graham's death, a judge tossed the June 2012 indictment on a legal technicality. A second grand jury then declined to indict Haste.
Police officials have said Haste mistakenly thought Graham was armed.
The Department of Justice started investigating Graham’s death in August 2013 — but his family says they don’t think the inquiry is going anywhere, making this anniversary all the more painful.
“This case is just lingering and we don’t know what’s going on,” Graham’s mother, Constance Malcolm, told The News. “Nobody’s telling us. They’re dragging their feet.”
“Ramarley’s killing was a clear violation of his civil rights,” she continued. “It’s time for Preet Bharara to prioritize this case and move forward.”
Bharara’s office declined to comment on the investigation, but federal civil rights investigations are notoriously slow.
To push Bharara to speed up his inquiry, Graham’s family and supporters have organized protests in front of the federal prosecutor’s lower Manhattan office starting with a vigil at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday.
They then plan to occupy the space in front of Bharara’s office, at 1 St. Andrew’s Plaza, overnight from Tuesday evening until Wednesday morning.
“We just want the message clear that you’re on notice,” Malcolm said. “The foot-dragging is unacceptable. We will not allow that to be swept under the rug.”
Malcolm, 43, also explained the toll Graham’s death has taken on her younger son, who witnessed the shooting and now gets counseling. He was 6 at the time.
“They shot my son in front of my other son and in front of their grandmother,” she said. “My baby watched that whole thing. He’s damaged for the rest of his
life.”