Killing of Ramarley Graham

On February 2, 2012, in the Bronx borough of New York City, 18-year-old Ramarley Graham was fatally shot by New York Police Department officer Richard Haste inside the bathroom of the apartment Graham shared with his grandmother. Graham, who was Jamaica-born and the son of Constance Malcolm and Franclot Graham, had been seen by officers from the NYPD's Street Narcotics Enforcement Unit (SNEU) leaving a bodega on White Plains Road and East 228th Street at approximately 3:00 p.m. Officers alleged they saw Graham adjusting a gun in his waistband and reported seeing the "butt of a gun." No gun was ever recovered from Graham or the scene.

Officers said they identified themselves and told Graham not to move, and claimed in their official report that he ran toward his home. However, video evidence showed Graham walking casually into his home while officers followed. Haste, without permission and without a warrant, forced his way into the building, kicked down the front door, and pursued Graham inside. Graham had gone into the bathroom and was attempting to flush a small amount of marijuana wrapped in foil down the toilet when Haste broke into the bathroom and shot him multiple times in front of his grandmother. There was no confrontation or struggle. Graham was pronounced dead shortly afterward at Montefiore Medical Center.

Surveillance footage reportedly showed Haste smiling and laughing with responding officers and detectives afterward — the same officers who later testified they had told Haste that Graham had a gun. Haste was placed on modified duty immediately and was charged with manslaughter in June 2012, to which he pleaded not guilty. Bronx County Supreme Court Justice Steven Barrett later vacated the manslaughter indictment, ruling that prosecutors had given the grand jury flawed instructions; the indictment was dismissed without prejudice. On the day the charges were dismissed, rows of NYPD officers lined the courthouse steps and applauded Haste as he exited, in view of Graham's family. In 2013, the Bronx County District Attorney's office presented the case to a second grand jury, which declined to re-indict Haste.

The NYPD's Firearms Discharge Review Board found the shooting to be within department guidelines. However, a separate internal disciplinary review in 2017 concluded that Haste had used "poor tactical judgment" and recommended his dismissal. Haste was informed of this determination on March 24, 2017, and resigned two days later rather than be terminated.

Graham's family filed a civil rights lawsuit against the NYPD, which the City of New York settled for $3.9 million in January 2015. Of that amount, $2.95 million went to Graham's estate, $500,000 to his brother, $400,000 to his grandmother, and $40,000 to his mother.