Neighbors: Queens Teen's Shooting Was Excessive

MYFOXNY.COM - People who live in the Beach 41st Street Houses in Far Rockaway, Queens, are saying they are angry because police gunned down Dashawn Vasconcellos, 18. But the NYPD has said that Dashawn pointed a loaded handgun at officers, who fired to defend themselves.

"He didn't deserve nothing that they gave him, not at all," said Danielle Pannell, a friend. "Don't nobody deserve nothing like that."

Police investigating a couple of gang-related shootings in the area wanted to question Dashawn and his two friends Saturday night, but the three men ran when officers approached them. During the pursuit, Dashawn turned and pointed a loaded 9 millimeter handgun at cops, the NYPD said. The officers told him to drop it, and when he didn't, they fired, police said.

"They didn't have to do that," said Carlton Carrington, a friend of Dashawn's. "They say he had a gun, but wasn't no shots thrown, you know, and they shooting to kill."

Police fired a total of 15 rounds; 8 of those shots were fired by one officer. Dashawn was hit 11 times, according to the medical examiner.

When asked if that was excessive, Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said an investigation is being conducted.

"When deadly physical force is pointed at you," Kelly said. "[Officers] have not only the responsibility, but they're protecting their own lives. It was an operational, loaded handgun."

A memorial now sits in front of Dashawn's building, and his friends argue that he was a good kid. But Commissioner Kelly told reporters that he was no stranger to police. Dashawn had been arrested three times and had already served 18 months in jail for robbery.

"Police can be wrong too," neighborhood resident Patricia Norwood said. "And this time I think they're wrong, because it don't take that many bullets for nobody."