Queens prosecutors today met with the grieving mom of motorist Noel Polanco – fatally shot in his car by a cop on the Grand Central Parkway last week — and promised a thorough probe into the controversial shooting.
District Attorney Richard Brown vowed to bring all relevant evidence to a Queens grand jury, the mom and her lawyers said afterward.
“I don’t want any cover-ups, I believe justice will be done,” mom Cecilia Reyes said, following her 30-minute sit down with DA Brown and a half-dozen of his top lieutenants.
“I’m hurt and overwhelmed right now. I just lost my son. I want this to be done legally and give me peace knowing they did this correctly. I want it done the right way and I want justice.”
Polanco was pulled over for speeding and erratic driving near LaGuardia Airport a week ago today.
Det. Hassan Hamdy walked up to Polanco’s car and eventually fired one, deadly shot into the driver’s side.
Hamdy said Polanco, a 22-year-old Army National Guard veteran with no criminal record, made a false move to prompt the shooting.
But a pal of Polanco, in the passenger seat, said the driver had his hands on the steering wheel moments before being shot.
Polanco was unarmed and no weapons were found in his car — only a black and yellow Ryobi power screw driver was found, on the driver’s side floorboard.
It’s not clear if Det. Hamdy would have been able to see the tool, or if it was within easy reach of Polanco.
The probe could eventually become a federal matter, but for now the family wants local authorities to do the initial probe.
“While we know there has been communication with the Eastern District, the crime happened here in Queens and the DA personally promised us an investigation,” said Michael Hardy, a lawyer for Reyes.
“All we can hope for is an investigation that is thorough and impartial. No citizen in this borough should be subjected to a wrongful death.”
Additional reporting by David K. Li