Metro

NYPD officer pleads not guilty in fatal shooting of Bronx teen, released on $50K bail

Constance Malcolm and Frank Graham, parents of 18-year-old Ramarley Graham, weep in court today.

Constance Malcolm and Frank Graham, parents of 18-year-old Ramarley Graham, weep in court today. (AP)

Ramarley Graham

Ramarley Graham

An NYPD police officer surrendered today to face charges in the fatal shooting of an unarmed teen in a Bronx home earlier this year.

Officer Richard Haste wore a black suit, gray shirt and a gray tie when he faced a judge and heard the indictments against him: manslaughter in the first and second degree.

He’s accused of gunning down unarmed 18-year-old Ramarley Graham on Feb. 2 during a drug bust.

“Officer Haste consciously and deliberately pulled the trigger, shooting Ramarley Graham, causing his death.” Assistant DA Donald Levin told a judge.

“Officer Haste’s actions were neither reasonable or justified at that moment.”

Levin cupped his hands with extended index fingers, mimicking a gun, and said: “Ramarley Graham was boxed in the bathroom with nowhere to go. Ramarley was looking at the barrel, the muzzle of the gun.”

Graham’s dad sobbed as Levin spoke, and the victim’s mom had to comfort her devastated hubby.

“He [Haste] made a conscious decision and pulled the trigger, killing Ramarley Graham,” Levin said.

Haste pleaded not guilty.

The prosecutor asked for bail to be set at $75,000, while defense lawyer Stuart London said his client should be set free on his own recognizance.

The judge set bail at $50,000 before Haste posted it and left court minutes later.

As Haste jumped into a waiting van, police supporters cheered and clapped for him. At the same time, supporters of the family chanted: “NYPD, KKK how many kids you kill today.”

London previewed his defense, telling the court that Haste was acting on bad information from other cops, who claimed Graham was armed.

“He was taking police action. This case is not about second-guessing difficult, if not impossible, police decisions,” London said.

“He [Haste] thought he was going to be killed.”

Haste was part of a narcotics unit that followed Graham into his Wakefield home believing he had a gun, officials said.

Haste shot the teen in the bathroom in front of his little brother and grandmother as the teen was apparently trying to flush a small amount of marijuana down the toilet.

London claimed Graham didn’t follow Haste’s orders.

“Rather than showing his hands, the defendant made a quick gesture to his waist,” London said.

The defense promised that Haste would make every court appearance, citing his long ties to the Bronx.

Haste graduated from nearby Lehman HS and had never fired his gun once in the line of duty during four years on the job, before Feb. 2, according to London.

“When he woke up that morning, he had no intention of firing his weapon,” the lawyer said.

Hours earlier, Haste, walking on crutches, surrendered through a side door at the Bronx Criminal Court as London spoke to the press at the front of the building. His attorney later said he was injured in a motorcycle accident.

A short time after Haste surrendered, about 20 of Graham’s family and friends — including his dad and sister — made a dramatic entrance into the courthouse.

They marched in a straight line with each person’s hands on the shoulders of the person in front of them.

Family friends, already outside court, greeted their allies with chants: “Justice for Ramarley … jail the cops!”

Jose LaSalle, 42, passed out ribbons in a show of solidarity with the family.

“I’m here to support the family and let them know they are not alone in this terrible time,” said LaSalle, while dispensing more than a dozen baby blue and gold-trimmed ribbons.

The ribbons are inscribed with “Ramarley’s call” on one side and “Happy Mother’s Day” on the other.

LaSalle said he expected to also pass out T-shirts and banners later today as more supporters arrived.

The shooting of Graham inside his home in the Wakefield neighborhood sparked accusations of overly-aggressive policing.

The case went on to be compared to Trayvon Martin, the unarmed Florida teen who was shot dead the same month by a neighborhood watch volunteer.

Graham’s supporters, including the Rev. Al Sharpton, filled up half the courtroom.

“The family is grieving. Nothing is going to bring their son back. This is the first step to getting justice but there are no winners,” Sharpton said outside court.

“We are not trying to seek revenge. We are trying to seek justice.”

Graham’s mom, Constance Malcolm, fought back tears as she spoke outside court following today’s hearing.

“This has to stop, they can’t keep killing our kids, something has to come of this,” she said. “Help me get justice for my son”

Dad Frank Graham cried, lamenting that he’ll never see his son again, no matter what happens to Haste.

“I keep asking, why, why why did he kill my son?” Graham said. “Eighteen years old, he did nothing to deserve this.”

Haste, 30, has been on modified duty since the incident. He faces up to 25 years in prison.

Patrick Lynch, the head of Haste’s union, the Policemen’s Benevolent Association, said he sympathized for families of both the officer and Graham.

“We are here for a show support for a New York City police who was put in a terrible position while doing a difficult job,” Lynch said following the hearing.

“In this case, there was a tragedy. A loss of life. Anyone that loses a child or family member has that grief, and we respect that grief.”

But Lynch predicted that Haste would be exonerated at trial.

“In this case the police officer thought there was a weapon,” Lynch said.

“We are confident justice will be served after all the facts are heard inside the courtroom without the emotion of the street. When the facts are heard we believe the police officer will be vindicated.”

The NYPD later acknowledged that Haste did not receive the required training to operate in a street narcotics unit.

Haste is the first NYPD officer to be indicted on manslaughter charges for action taken in the line of duty since 2007.

Additional reporting by David K. Li
and Kirstan Conley. With NewsCore