Sources: Officer Who Shot Ramarley Graham To Be Charged Wednesday
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Sources told CBS 2 on Monday that the officer who shot Ramarley Graham has been indicted and will be charged with first-degree manslaughter.
Officer Richard Haste, 30, is expected to surrender on Wednesday morning. Sources told CBS 2 Haste will be suspended from the NYPD once he turns himself in and is placed under arrest.
The NYPD has not commented on the indictment.
Graham, 18, was shot dead on Feb. 2 by Haste, who had chased Graham as he entered his grandmother's Bronx home.
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Surveillance cameras captured Haste, who was undercover as part of the NYPD Street Narcotics Enforcement Unit, running after Graham. Police said they believed the teen was armed with a gun, but a gun was never recovered.
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Graham's family plans to make a statement when the officer is formally charged Wednesday.
In the surveillance video, officers appeared to try to break down the door of the home. A downstairs tenant eventually let police in and they confronted Graham inside a bathroom where, police said, he was trying to flush marijuana down the toilet, CBS 2's Hazel Sanchez reported.
Moments later, Graham was fatally shot in his bathroom. Officers were said to be acting on reports Graham had a gun.
Authorities said Graham had at least two prior arrests for marijuana and burglary.
Meanwhile, neighbors reacted to the news of an indictment on Monday as well. Neighbor "Anne Marie" said Graham's father seemed optimistic about the case a few days ago.
"He did say that something was gonna happen. When he said it, he had a smile on his face because he know that justice have to be served because it's plain black and white," she told 1010 WINS' Sonia Rincon.
Others hope there will be lessons learned that will improve the relationship with the 47th Precinct.
"You can't go around shooting people's children, you can't. It could have been yours, it could have been mine, it just doesn't matter. There [has] to be a better way for you to speak to the children or the community. You have to be able to get along with them," another woman said.
The shooting also prompted protests and rallies. Police Commissioner Ray Kelly has met with Graham's family.
"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," said Patrolmen's Benevolent Association President Pat Lynch. "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."
Speaking at Graham's funeral on Feb. 18, Rev. Al Sharpton called the shooting unjust.
The shooting also prompted Bronx Assemblyman Eric Stevenson to call on all patrol officers in New York City to undergo psychological testing every three years.
The PBA released a statement Monday afternoon defending Haste's actions.
"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," Lynch said.
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