Independent journalist Ryan Devereaux interviewed 39-year-old Tishana King, the only known eyewitness to the police killing of 16-year-old Kimani Gray in East Flatbush last weekend, revealing new and disturbing details about Gray’s last moments of life.
King, who witnessed the entire encounter from her third story bedroom window, told the New York Daily News last week that she was “certain [Gray] didn’t have anything in his hands” when he was shot, casting doubt on police claims that Gray pointed a revolver at the officers, forcing them to open fire. She also said Gray was “backing up” when “The cop took out his gun and started firing.”
In her extended interview with Devereaux (whose coverage of Gray’s shooting and protests for the Village Voice is a must read), King elaborates on what she witnessed that night.
She says that one of the officers who shot Gray continued to shoot while the teen was on the ground. According to the state’s autopsy report, Gray was shot seven times (three times in the back), so this is completely plausible.
King also reaffirmed her earlier statement that Gray never pointed a gun at the police, saying, “I can’t say if they had one on them or not, but no one had a gun pointing at the cops.”
The most horrific aspect of the interview is King’s description of Gray crying in pain as he lay on the ground begging for his life:
After the gunfire subsided, King claims the officer who “did the most shooting” put his hands on his head “like, ‘Oh my God.'” She describes him as “the main shooter.”
“That’s the one I was focused on,” she explained. “He just kept shooting while [Gray] was on the ground.” When asked how close the officer was when he was shooting Gray, King said, “right over him.”
“I thought he was dead,” King said. That’s when Gray began to scream. “‘Help me. Help me. My stomach is burning. Help me. They shot me,'” she said the teen cried out. Friends have said Gray was approximately 5’6″ and weighed at most about 100 pounds. King described him as “frail” and said she was surprised he was not killed instantly. “I didn’t think anybody could take those amount of bullets,” she added.
Outraged by what she saw, King shouted out of her window at the police. The shooting officer responded by threatening to shoot her:
“I just remember screaming out the window ‘Why?! Why so much?!” King recalled. She claims the “main shooter”‘s partner–“with the short haircut”–responded.
“He started waving his gun up at our windows, myself and my neighbor. ‘Get your F-ing head out the window before I shoot you.'” King said she and her neighbor “jumped back.”
“I told the authorities that,” she said. “You threatened our lives and we didn’t even do anything.”
The officers, identified as Sgt. Mourad Mourad, 30, and Officer Jovaniel Cordova, 26, have been placed on desk duty until the investigation into Gray’s death is complete.
According to court records, both have been accused of civil rights violations in five federal lawsuits, costing the city $215,000 in settlements.
“In each case, Mourad and Cordova attempted to cover up their misconduct by falsifying and fabricating evidence,” the lawyer who filed four of the five lawsuits told the New York Daily News.
Sgt. Mourad is accused in one of the lawsuits of an illegal stop and frisk that landed an innocent man in Rikers Island for four months. Another complaint alleges that Mourad and others pulled a man’s pants and underwear down during a frisk.
Allegations against Officer Cordova include handcuffing a driver by shoving him facedown into a puddle during a car stop and punching a man in the face during an illegal stop, resulting in three stitches.
Furthermore, both officers have been awarded for their involvement in past non-fatal shootings.
Complete animals occupying our community! RIP little Kimani Gray and all victims of police violence. You’ll get justice!
March 18, 2013 at 5:10 pmYou’ll get justice? Really? Justice won’t be found by just saying it…we have to do something about it.
March 18, 2013 at 7:39 pmSo many more will die. We do the same thing everytime this happens. So many more will die ie we won’t change and start protecting each other. If there had been no witness, the NYPD would have no one to dispute their lie-but Kimani would still be dead. Aiyana Jones, Troy Davis, Oscar Grant, etc, etc. They need to be avenged-and we need to make sure this happens no more! Go NOwhere alone, always keep some sort of recording device, and NEVER talk to or call the police for anything.
March 18, 2013 at 5:42 pmI pretty much agree with these sentiments. I’ve been preaching this for years. The police (and many other government agents) lie routinely. The police have also been trained to ‘kontrol’ (beat, club, shoot, taser) you. They have a license to kill. They’re not obligated (in law) to protect you. They’re not your friend–unless you consider someone who searches body cavities your friend. Many are sociopaths returned from various wars with PTSD. They’re violent and mentally/psychologically crippled when hired. Then they’re trained in how to use the law to obscure these tendencies. Most citizens are far more likely to be killed/injured by a cop than a criminal. The police are members of the largest, most powerful, most pervasive, most violent gang in America…short of the military, I suppose. But it’s the police you’ll typically see on your block/street, not the U.S. Army. Although they both wear uniforms, it’s the police who are the more dangerous to Americans precisely because they’ve been trained to be. They’re not much safer to civilians than a classroom full of grade school kids given loaded pistols.
The Black Panthers had one concept: Armed patrols to prevent the police from killing Blacks. But Womb Godis’ idea is more sustainable in a country as Occupied by a hostile force as any in Palestine. It may not be as flashy as the Panthers, but it’s more effective long term. Guns, as this story reveals, simply gives the police a pretext to kill you–something they’re rewarded for.
Friends don’t let their friends/neighbors talk to police/government agents alone! Going into public or communicating with ANY cop/government agent without a camera/video recorder AND audio recorder running is like having sex in an HIV clinic without a condom. Don’t be an idiot–don’t do it!
-amicuscuria.com/wordpress-
March 20, 2013 at 1:12 pmThe answer to the police kiling people is to organize and fight with the idea of using any means necessary to protect the community. The police are the frontline soldiers in the ruling class’s war against the people. As long as the community allows the police to kill with impunity, they will continue to do so!
..
March 19, 2013 at 4:28 pmI don’t favor (in most circumstances) armed confrontation with the police. That’s too much like Rachel Corrie…not my style, being more cowardly than that courageous young heroine. But for those who do welcome almost certain and immediate death, note that all the body armor worn by your typical cop/swat droid is quite inadequate to a simple bow/cross-bow with the correct heavy duty teflon coated arrow/bolt. Although not easily concealed, they have the advantage of no background check, no licensing, no serial #, and no felony for possession. Black powder firearms are legal for all citizens too, but bows are much quieter. Police are not invulnerable. When cut, they bleed just like anyone else. They’re also human…as so many Nazis are. As I said, I don’t condone or recommend this style–but, just sayin’…!
March 20, 2013 at 1:31 pmWhat a sad ending for a 16yr old kid gun or not to be shot 7times 4of dem in the back and everyone thinks that is ok.
March 21, 2013 at 7:13 am