Soulemane’s family takes fight for justice to Bridgeport

BRIDGEPORT — The family of Mubarak Soulemane took to city streets Saturday to continue their fight for justice after the 19- year- old’s death at the hands of police earlier this year, the family’s attorney said.

After rallies in West Haven, New Haven and Hamden, family and supporters gathered at the McLevy Green in downtown around 2 p. m. and then marched to Bridgeport police headquarters at 300 Congress St.

“We’re here today like we have been the past two weeks, fighting for justice for Mubarak,” Mark Arons, the family’s attorney and a partner at the Law Firm of Miller & Rosnick, told Hearst Connecticut Media prior to the rally.

Soulemane was killed Jan. 15 in West Haven after he allegedly stole a car from an individual in Norwalk and fled from police at high speeds along Interstate 95, according to Connecticut State Police.

Trooper Brian North fired his gun after he saw Soulemane with a knife, when the vehicle was stopped off Exit 43 in West Haven, state police said.

Pending the outcome of the investigations, North will not be assigned to any of the state police barracks and will not interact with the public.

Soulemane’s family has stressed that the teen, who had mental health struggles for years, was likely experiencing a manic episode the day he was killed. His sister, Mariyann Soulemane, told the CT Mirror that state police should have been notified her brother had underlying mental health struggles.

Arons said the family’s rallies are also in support of Black Lives Matter and against police brutality, especially following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis on Memorial Day.

“This has put Mubarak’s case once again in the spotlight,” Arons said in reference to the calls for justice following Floyd’s death. “We hope all this attention gets the attention of the State’s Attorney’s Office to do the right thing.”

Soulemane’s sister, Mariyann, and Soulemane’s mother, Omo Klusum Mohammed, said the family gathered Saturday in Bridgeport for justice.

“All I want people to know is we want this case to be heard,” Mohammed said. “We want the police to be held accountable. ... We want justice.”

“We’re going to fight for justice both criminally and in the civil court,” Arons said. “The family has no intention in stopping until that is completed.”

He said the State’s Attorney’s Office, tasked with overseeing the state police investigation into Soulemane’s death, has been “very cordial and cooperative” and that he has been in touch with the office “constantly.” He said the family has met with the office at least twice.

“We hope this comes to a speedy and just conclusion,” Arons said.

Arons said Bridgeport holds significance in connection to Soulemane’s case because of the death of 15year- old Jayson Negron at the hands of city police back in 2017. Michael Rosnik, of the same firm as Arons, represented Negron’s family after the fatal officer- involved shooting.

“Bridgeport is a good location to keep the message out there,” Arons said.

Negron was fatally shot by Bridgeport Police Officer James Boulay in May 2017 after a brief pursuit, according to the report from Waterbury State’s Attorney Maureen Platt, who oversaw the state police investigation into the shooting. The vehicle, the report indicated, was stolen. The report said Boulay was justified when he pulled the trigger.

Negron’s family filed a federal lawsuit in March.

But Bridgeport isn’t the only city with a case that stands out.

“Mubarak was shot seven times while he was sitting in a car with the door closed and the window closed and he couldn’t get out of the car because he was boxed in by police,” Arons said.

He says there is precedent for prosecution in Soulemane’s case, citing a case in Chicago in 2014.