NYCLU on Fatal Law Enforcement Shooting of 17-Year-Old Experiencing a Mental Health Crisis

NEW YORK – In response to reporting that a 17-year-old was shot and killed by law enforcement near Jamesville, New York, the New York Civil Liberties Union issued the following statement from senior racial justice strategist Yusuf Abdul-Qadir:

“While we continue searching for answers, several facts are clear: dozens of cops, sheriffs and state police descended on the scene of a young person experiencing a mental health crisis, and took the very life they swore to protect. DeWitt police, New York state police, and Onondaga County Sheriffs are responsible for making this situation fatal – no one else. This tragedy shows that police escalate by design, and do not ensure the dignity, health and basic human rights that all residents deserve.”