Rev. Al to NYPD: Give us vid proof on slay
THE REV. Al Sharpton wants the NYPD to release “all the footage” leading up to the death of Saheed Vassell, who was fatally shot by police in Brooklyn on Wednesday.
“The video we’re not seeing is of what the police did. When did they arrive? When did they get out of the car? What did they do, what did they say?” Sharpton said Sunday outside Vassell’s Crown Heights home as Eric and Lorna Vassell, Saheed’s parents, stood listening and sometimes nodding in agreement. “We’ve not seen a video of what they say. We have seen up to the point of engagement. So how do we know?” Sharpton added.
Police shot and killed Vassell on Utica Ave. at Montgomery St. after he pointed an iron pipe at them, holding it like it was a gun.
The officers were responding to 911 calls reporting that someone was sticking a handgun in people’s faces.
“None of them said that shots were fired. Whatever happened to Tasers, what happened to restraining, what is the policy?” Sharpton said.