Social Justice
Funeral of Ramarley Graham, unarmed teen shot by cops, is held at Bronx church
The unarmed teenager who was shot and killed by New York police was laid to rest Saturday.
Ramarely Graham, the unarmed teenager who was shot and killed by New York police, was laid to rest today.
Hundreds gathered in a Bronx church Saturday to mourn the death of Graham who was shot and killed inside his home.
Ramarely Graham’s funeral
About 400 friends and relatives attended the Ramarley Graham’s funeral held at the Crawford Memorial United Methodist Church in Williamsbridge.
Franclot Graham kissed the forehead of his teenage son, dressed in a white suit, before the service began at 10 a.m.
“There is no reason for all of us to pretend, even in our sorrows, that we are here under a natural act,” said the Rev. Al Sharpton. “This is an unnatural and inexcusable occasion.”
Ramarley Graham was chased into his parents’ Williamsbridge apartment on Feb. 2 by officers from the NYPD’s street narcotics enforcement unit after the cops spotted what appeared to be a gun.
After bursting into the apartment, Officer Richard Haste confronted the teen in the bathroom and fired the fatal shot as his grandmother and 6-year-old brother stood nearby.
Only a bag of marijuana was found near Ramarely Graham’s body.
Haste and Sgt. Scott Morris were later stripped of their badge and gun. The cops could face criminal charges, but the case is still being investigated by prosecutors, a spokesman for the Bronx district attorney said.
Sharpton — who spoke before attending Whitney Houston’s funeral in Newark — said the community should demand justice.
“When the police are killed in this city, we condemn it,” he said. “When citizens are killed wrongfully by police, we should have the same kind of outrage.”