NYPD Officer Indicted On Manslaughter Charges For Shooting Death of Unarmed Ramarley Graham

Richard Haste, the NYPD police officer that shot and killed unarmed teenager Ramarley Graham in his home this past February, has been indicted on manslaughter charges.

As we reported to you earlier this year, Graham was suspected of carrying illegal drugs. Upon allegedly adjusting his waistband while running, the officers assumed incorrectly that Graham was carrying a gun. They chased him into his home, a struggle took place by the entrance into the family bathroom, and Graham was shot. Family members who were home at the time witnessed his death.

Surveillance video taken minutes before the tragic incident showed NYPD officers finding that the door to his apartment building was locked. They attempted to kick the door down without a warrant. Eventually an officer entered through the back door and unlocked the front door. Seconds later, Graham would be dead.

From NewsOne:

“Patrick J. Lynch, President of The Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association, says that the officers acted appropriately. ‘We look forward to a complete review of the facts in this case which will demonstrate that this police officer believed that he was pursuing an armed felon who bolted rather than be caught with an illegal gun,’ he told ABC news. ‘Several members of the officer’s team had confirmed the presence of a gun and that constituted a grave danger to the officers and the community. We believe that this officer will be exonerated at trial.’

Graham’s case has been largely overshadowed by that of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, who was gunned down weeks later by neighborhood watch captain George Zimmerman. Martin was also unarmed.

If Haste is convicted of manslaughter in this case, he could face up to 25 years in prison.”

Read more at NewsOne.com

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