Case Support

Justice Committee (JC) has been supporting the families of people killed by the NYPD since 1985. We believe families who have lost loved-ones to the police are most impacted by the NYPD’s discriminatory and abusive practices. The JC is therefore committed to supporting these families and building their leadership. We provide support for victims of police and racial violence and their families by educating them about their legal and organizing options, helping them to develop strategies to win justice, and training them to carry out activities such as press conferences and actions, while always following their leadership. We also secure attorneys, gain media attention for cases, mobilize community members to come out to protests and engage in court monitoring. The JC also conducts intake interviews for new cases and provide advice and referrals year-round.

"Justice Committee makes things happen. You can call on them anytime and they are there for you. They don't talk the talk they live up to what they say they are going to do. They know how to bring people together to help make that CHANGE. And thats needed in this society today" - Valerie Bell, mother of Sean Bell

Delrawn Small killed by NYPD Delrawn Small, loved brother, father, and son was killed on July 2016, when at a red light he approached a driver driving erratically. That driver turned out to be off duty NYPD officer Wayne Isaacs. Officer Isaacs shot unarmed Delrawn dead as he approach his vehicle and made no attempt to get him medical attention. Despite being charged with murder, the Brooklyn jury failed to convict. Delrawn's family is calling for NYPD officer Wayne Issacs to be fired, immediately!	Elvin Diaz killed by HPD 5/2015 On May 21, 2015 Hackensack police entered Elvin's home without knocking and without a warrant and killed the emotionally disturbed man in his kitchen. Officers ignored Elvins families pleas to allow them to speak to him.	Ramarley Graham killed by NYPD 2/12 On February 2, 2012, NYPD officers busted into Ramarley Graham's home and shot the unarmed teenager in front of his grandmother and 6-year-old brother. Ramarley had not committed a crime. His grandmother was threatened and denied access to her attorney and his mother was assaulted at the precinct. His family is calling for all officers to be fired.
Shantel Davis killed by NYPD 6/2012 East Flatbush, Brooklyn: Shantel Davis, a 23-year-old Black woman, was killed by NYPD Officer Phillip “Bad Boy” Atkins, who is infamous for his brutal and disrespectful treatment of neighborhood residents. Atkins shot Shantel while she was trapped behind the airbag of the car she was driving, after it crashed at the corner of Church Ave and East 38th St. She was unarmed. A grand jury has never been convened in this case and Atkins has not been charged.	Mohamed Bah killed by NYPD 9/12 Mohamed Bah, a 28-year-old from West Africa, was killed by Emergency Services Unit Officers after his mother called 911 for an ambulance and the NYPD came instead. Mohamed's mother Hawa Bah had recently traveled from Guinea to care for her son after becoming concerned about his psychological and physical health. When officers arrived on the scene, they ordered Mrs. Bah outside, refused to let her speak with her son, entered Mohamed's room against his will and shot and killed him.	Jayson Tirado killed by NYPD 10/2006 Jayson Tirado: In October 2007 Jayson Tirado, an unarmed motorist was shot and killed by off-duty New York City Detective Sean Sawyer after Jayson didn't allow the detective to cut in front of his vehicle as they both exited the FDR drive. Aftershooting Jayson, the detective fled the scene and waited 19 hours to turn himself in. In July 2008 a Manhattan grand jury decided not to indict Detective Sean Sawyer.
Anthony Baez killed by NYPD 12/94 Anthony Baez, a 29-year-old Puerto Rican man, was killed after his football hit a police car during a game of catch with his brothers. NYPD Officer Francis Livoti ordered them to go home, but the brothers elected to continue playing catch in the opposition direction. When Anthony protested his brother's arrest, Livoti and three other officers jumped on him, claiming it took four of them to hold Anthony down. NYPD Livoti then had Anthony in a choke hold, where minutes later pronounced dead.	Kimani Gray killed by NYPD 3/12 Kimani Gray, a 16-year-old Black youth, was shot seven times by NYPD Sergeant Mourad Mourad and Officer Jovaniel Cordova. Several of these shots entered his back as he lay on the ground. The two officers involved in the killing had been named in a total of five federal civil rights lawsuit, which cost the city $215,000 in settlements. The NYPD claims that Kimani had a gun, but numerous witnesses say otherwise.	Iman Morales killed by NYPD on 9/24/2008 Iman Morales, a mentally ill man, was tasered while standing on the ledge of a store front awning 10 feet high without an inflatable bag to break his fall. The officers ignored his mother's cries for an inflatable bag, and made no attempts to catch Mr. Morales who fell to his death after being tasered. The Lieutenant that ordered the tasing killed himself a week after. Although it is against police procedures to taser someone in an elevated position no officers were held accountable.
Sean Bell killed by NYPD 11/26/2006 Sean Bell was killed the morning of his wedding. Two of his friends were also shot in a hail of 50 shots. Sean & his friend were unarmed. Although cops were indicted, all officers were acquitted at trial. Six-years later 1 officer was fired and 3 were forced to retire.	Kenny Lazo killed by SCPD 4/8/2008 Kenny Lazo was killed by Suffolk County officers John Newton, James Scimone, William Judge, Christopher Talt and Joseph Link, after being stopped for going 8 miles over the speed limit in Bay shore, New York. Then hours later, his body appeared in 3rd precinct with only his boxers. Months later, the Coroner's office released Kenny's autopsy stating is was a homicide. Kenny's family paid for an independent autopsy which released beatings from the officers while going to cardiac arrest.	Eric Garner killed by NYPD 8/17/2014 On July 17, 2014, Eric Garner had just broken up a fight in his neighborhood when 2 police officers approached him and attempted to arrest him. Video shows Mr. Garner telling the cops to stop harassing him & asserting his innocence. One officer puts Mr. Garner in a chokehold while other officers piled on top of him & ignored him saying 13 times that he could not breathe. A Staten Island grand jury failed to indict. A federal grand jury has been convened.
Anthony Rosario killed by NYPD 1/95 Anthony Rosario, young Puerto Rican man (18 years-old,respectively), was killed with his cousin Hilton Vega (22 years-old), by two NYPD detectives, Patrick Brosnan and James Crowe. Anthony and Hilton were shot a combined 14 times in the back while laying face down, with the cops standing right above them. No grand jury was ever convened and the officers involved were never charged.	Alberta Spruill killed by NYPD 5/03 In 2003, 57 year-old worker, Alberta Spruill was killed by a heart attack after her apartment located in Harlem was raided by NYPD Officers. When officers broke in, they broke down her door and threw a concussion grenade into her apartment. They stated a confusion with addresses where they were suppose to bust an apartment with guns and drugs. Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly did a public apology to Alberta's family stating the suspension of the grenades and rechecking addresses before entering.	Hilton Vega killed by NYPD 1/95 Hilton Vega, a young Puerto Rican man (22 years-old,respectively), was killed with his cousin Anthony Rosario (18 years-old), by two NYPD detectives, Patrick Brosnan and James Crowe. Anthony and Hilton were shot a combined 14 times in the back while laying face down, with the cops standing right above them. No grand jury was ever convened and the officers involved were never charged.
Nicholas Heyward Jr killed by NYPD94 Nicholas, a 13-year-old Black middle school honor student, was killed by NYC housing cop Brian George in the Gowanus Houses complex where he lived with his parents and younger brother. Nicholas and his friends were playing a cops and robbers in the stairwell, using plastic toy guns with bright orange handles and tips. When the officer came upon them, Nicholas dropped his toy gun, saying "We're only playing, we're only playing," but George shot him in the stomach.	Rexford Dasrath killed by NYPD 11/14 Rexford, a 22-year-old Dominican-Guyanese man born with a psychological disability, was shot and killed by NYPD officers in front of his family's home. Police claim to have been responding to a call from Rexford’s landlord. They also claim officers shot Rexford when he threatened them with a knife. However, family members say Dasrath was just holding a kitchen knife he used to eat with, and community witnesses say there was no need for police to shoot him.	Manuel Mayi killed by Racist Gang 91 In 1991, the 18 year-old Dominican, Manuel Mayi was beaten and killed by 10 white individuals, chasing him down 16 blocks down Corona, Queens with baseball bats. Since this time the Queens District Attorney’s Office has failed to fairly prosecute the perpetrators, one of whom later became a police officer. For the past 10 years the Justice Committee has been working with the Mayi family to win justice and bring the problem of racially motivated violence to the consciousness of the NY public.
Ryan Nunez Assaulted by NYPD 11/2007 NYPD attacked six young men with nightsticks and mace while they were eating at a McDonald's restaurant in Washington Heights. Ryan, 16, was in the Intensive Care Unit at Harlem Hospital for three days as a result of his injuries. He was charged as an adult with several misdemeanors and "assault on a police officer." Ryan spent close to 10 months fighting these charges in Manhattan Criminal Court. In September 2008 all charges against Ryan were dropped.