A NYPD officer has pleaded not guilty to manslaughter charges in the shooting of an unarmed teen.
Officer Richard Haste turned himself in Wednesday morning at Central Booking in the Bronx and was later arraigned.
Haste was using crutches as he entered the building. The courtroom was filled with supporters of the officer and the family of the victim.
The indictment alleges that Haste "caused the death...while acting with intent to cause serious physical injury (to Ramarley Graham) by shooting him."
The grand jury also alleged that Haste had acted "recklessly" in causing Graham's death.
In a statement read by his lawyer, Haste said: "I thought he was going to shoot me so I shot him."
A judge set bail at $50,000.
At Ramarley Graham's Bronx home -- the place where he was shot and killed -- there are signs and t-shirts asking for justice as well as plenty of neighbors who had been waiting months for this indictment.
Graham's parents are expected to talk at a press conference on Wednesday.
Back in February narcotics officers followed graham into his home -- without a search warrant -- after watching him during a drug investigation nearby.
Officer haste shot Graham in the bathroom, reportedly after being told the teenager had a gun. Graham turned out to be unarmed.
The last time a police officer was indicted for an on-duty shooting was 2007 -- the case of Sean Bell. Three detectives were charged and later acquitted for killing Bell, who was outside a strip club.
Fox News legal analyst Arthur Aidala said Graham's case is quite different because it happened inside Graham's home.
"It kid of changes the dynamics of… how a juror would expect a police officer to act and react in that situation," Aidala said. "When you're following someone into their home, you better be certain that your life is in danger as a police officer before you kill someone."
The union that represents uniformed police officers stands behind Haste and believes he will be exonerated at trial.
Saturday, May 18 2013 6:52 PM EDT2013-05-18 22:52:45 GMT
A large crowd of supporters in the Bronx joined the parents of a slain teen to protest a judge's ruling Saturday. Constance Malcolm and Francelot Graham whose son Ramarley was killed back in February
A large crowd of supporters in the Bronx joined the parents of a slain teen to protest a judge's ruling Saturday. Constance Malcolm and Francelot Graham whose son Ramarley was killed back in February
Friday, May 17 2013 10:05 AM EDT2013-05-17 14:05:18 GMT
It's all about the Bronx as the borough celebrates a week of festivities honoring it's people and the many businesses and establishments that call it home.
It's all about the Bronx as the borough celebrates a week of festivities honoring it's people and the many businesses and establishments that call it home.
Thursday, May 16 2013 6:06 PM EDT2013-05-16 22:06:34 GMT
A smuggling ring that made a fortune selling more than a million cartons of untaxed cigarettes in New York may have funneled some of the illicit proceeds to terrorist groups, authorities said.
A smuggling ring that made a fortune selling more than a million cartons of untaxed cigarettes in New York may have funneled some of the illicit proceeds to terrorist groups, authorities said.
Thursday, May 16 2013 1:17 PM EDT2013-05-16 17:17:42 GMT
Several New York lawmakers are sounding the alarm about security and safety lapses at day care centers across New York City.
Several New York lawmakers are sounding the alarm about security and safety lapses at day care centers across New York City. In a report released Thursday, dozens of daycares cited by the Dept. of Health for serious and critical health code violations since 2010, have not fixed the problems and continue to operate without penalty.
Wednesday, May 15 2013 11:08 PM EDT2013-05-16 03:08:35 GMT
A judge in Manhattan put the brakes on the so-called Taxi of Tomorrow because the Nissan-built minivan does not come in a hybrid version -- a violation of the city code.
A judge in Manhattan put the brakes on the so-called Taxi of Tomorrow because the Nissan-built minivan does not come in a hybrid version -- a violation of the city code.
Wednesday, May 15 2013 3:39 PM EDT2013-05-15 19:39:09 GMT
Yankee Stadium will host two outdoor regular-season hockey games in January 2014, the National Hockey League announced. The New York Rangers will play the New Jersey Devils, Sunday, January 26. Then the
Yankee Stadium will host two outdoor regular-season hockey games in January 2014, the National Hockey League announced. The New York Rangers will play the New Jersey Devils, Sunday, January 26. Then the
Wednesday, May 15 2013 1:18 PM EDT2013-05-15 17:18:45 GMT
An indictment has been thrown out in the case against an NYPD police officer charged last year in the fatal shooting of an unarmed suspect in a Bronx home.
An indictment has been thrown out in the case against NYPD officer Richard Haste, charged last year in the fatal shooting of unarmed suspect Ramarley Graham in a Bronx home. A judge found on Wednesday that prosecutors gave flawed instructions to a grand jury that indicted Haste.
Tuesday, May 14 2013 9:54 PM EDT2013-05-15 01:54:43 GMT
The FDNY must subject itself to court supervision for five years to ensure it does not discriminate against blacks and Hispanics in its hiring practices, a federal appeals court said.
The FDNY must subject itself to court supervision for five years to ensure it does not discriminate against blacks and Hispanics in its hiring practices, a federal appeals court said.
Tuesday, May 14 2013 3:59 PM EDT2013-05-14 19:59:22 GMT
USDA photo
The tree-killing Asian longhorned beetle has been eradicated from Manhattan and Staten Island, but remains a problem in Brooklyn, Queens, and parts of Long Island.
The tree-killing Asian longhorned beetle has been eradicated from Manhattan and Staten Island, but remains a problem in Brooklyn, Queens, and parts of Long Island, according to state agriculture officials.
