In the South Bronx, Shaaliver Douse was shot dead by a rookie NYPD officer. According to police, the 14-year-old was armed. However, the boy’s family alleges the discovery of the weapon on the scene is a “cover-up.”
Early Sunday (August 4) morning, Douse was shot and killed after allegedly shooting at another man and fleeing the scene according to the New York Post. Police reports say that a pair of cops heard gunfire around 3 a.m. and ran into the direction of the noise.
The officers, aged 26 and 27, reported they saw Douse chasing a man in the street with his firearm. The cops ordered the boy to stop and drop the gun, and they stated that Douse allegedly aimed his weapon in their direction.
One of the officers fired one shot into the jaw of Douse, and he was later pronounced dead on the scene. A 9mm semi-automatic handgun stained with blood was recovered at the scene of the shooting.
Commissioner Ray Kelly did not publicly admonish the rookie officers and balked at suggestions that Douse should have simply been wounded.
“You shoot to stop. You can’t shoot to wound. That only happens in Western movies,” stated Kelly at a press conference at NYPD headquarters. “Regardless of the circumstances, this is a crushing blow to any parent,” he added.
The family of Douse is angry at the NYPD and are demanding answers.
“They’re making it all up,” said Quwana Barcene, Douse’s aunt. “There was no gun. It’s all a cover-up. It’s what the police do. They kill us and cover it up.”
She added, “It’s not fair. It was my sister’s only child. You shouldn’t have to bury your child. My beautiful nephew got shot in the head. A mother of one now has to bury her only child.”
Douse had a previous run-in with the law; was arrested in May on attempted murder charges for shooting a 15-year-old which was later dismissed. Douse was due in court on August 23 for weapons possession, however.
A grainy video from New York Daily News reportedly show Douse running from the cops just moments before he was gunned down.
Check out photos of the alleged handgun Douse was using, and scenes from the investigation of the case on the following pages.
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Photo: New York Post, NYPD
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