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Kimani Gray's Mother: "After The First Shot, Why The Second Bullet, Why The Third Bullet?"
By
Jen Chung
Published Mar 14, 2013
Modified Mar 14, 2013
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Via 1010 WINS
By
Jen Chung
Published Mar 14, 2013
Modified Mar 14, 2013
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Days after her 16-year-old son was killed by police officers on an East Flatbush street, Carol Gray spoke to reporters, telling them that she's "been through a lot, the past couple of days. I just buried my oldest son a little over two years ago, to a car accident, and I haven't even found closure yet, and now, I have to place my younger boy in the same hole that his older brother's in... Take a look at my life, and understand what I'm saying to you. I'm the mother of a teen. A teen that's been a regular teen, as you say. They're young, they make stupid moves."
Police said that on Saturday night, at around 11:30 p.m., two Brooklyn South Anti Crime plainclothes officers had been on patrol when they noticed young males near 473 East 52nd Street. According to the NYPD's statement, the cops noticed one—Kiminai Gray—"break away from the group upon noticing the police. The male... adjusted his waistband and continued to act in a suspicious manner. The officers exited their unmarked auto and attempted to engage the suspect, who turned on them, and pointed a .38 caliber revolver at the officers. Both officers fired at the suspect, striking him about the body."
Police Commissioner Ray Kelly had said, "We have three [civilian] witnesses, two of which said that one of the officers shouted 'Don't move' and 'Freeze.' Two witnesses also said they heard officers say, 'What do you have in your hands?'" However, one witness claims that the teen wasn't armed.
Kimani had previous arrests and was reportedly a member of the Bloods. Carol Gray said today, "As a mother... I want to speak of Kimani. Kimani Gray is my son. My baby. My 16-year-old baby... He’s not the public’s angel, but he’s my angel and he’s my baby and he was slaughtered and I want to know why." She said, "He has a curfew, sometimes he's late. Whatever time he gets there, I'll be real happy to seem him" and pointed out that he wasn't "at a robbery site, not at the murder scene, Kimani was killed in front of his best friend's house, after leaving a sweet 16 party."
A report from the medical examiner's office said that Kimani had been hit seven times by the police officers' bullets, three of them in the back. Carol Gray asked for justice and wondered, "Why was Kimani been murdered, and slaughtered? Why was Kimani begging for his life? Why was Kimani saying [those things] if he had a weapon? ... He's my angel, and my baby, and he was slaughtered, and I want to know why. After the first shot, why the second bullet, why the third bullet? ... Just walk in my shoes, please, and understand my grief... I want justice, for his civil rights, for being an American citizen."
City Council Member Charles Barron said they weren't going to address the violence during vigils on Monday and Wednesday nights (the Grays have condemned the violence through a spokeperson), but did say that justice would help, "The best way to stop violence in our community is that—no pleas for peace are going to do it, just justice."
Tagged
carol gray
kimani gray
nypd shooting
police shooting
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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