A crowd of about 50 came out Sunday to participate and show support for Nicholas Heyward Sr. whose son, Nicholas Jr. was shot and killed by NYPD officer Brian George on September 27, 1994. According to the Nicholas Heyward Memorial Foundation website, at 13-years old, was shot and killed by a New York City housing cop in the housing complex where he lived with his mother, father and younger brother.
Nicholas Jr. and his friends were playing a game of cops and robbers in the stairwell of the Gowanus Houses, using plastic toy guns with bright orange-colored handles and tips. When Officer Brian George came upon Nicholas on the 14th floor stairwell, Nicholas dropped his toy gun, saying “We’re only playing, we’re only playing,” but Officer George shot Nicholas in the stomach.
Supporters held posters with pictures of those killed by NYPD and took turns reading their stories of what how they were killed; Kimani Gray, 16, who was shot by NYPD because fixing his belt looked “suspicious”. After he was shot a witness said Kimani was heard saying “Please don’t let me Die” to which NYPD replied, “stay down or we’ll shoot you again”.
Another supporter read about “Frankie Arzuaga, 15, who was in the back seat of a allegedly stolen car. 2 unidentified officers approached the car grabbing at the door handle saying, ‘open the door’. The driver of the car drove away and an Officer shot into the back of the car hitting Frankie in the back of the head. he died a day later”.
Then Nicholas Heyward Sr. spoke first by thanking those who came up to show support. He, then, took the plastic, toy gun from a bag to show the crowd what his son was killed over. He held up a toy rifle approximately 20″ long light brown in color with a bright, fluorescent orange tip a few inches in length. The gun was Obviously a toy and could not be confused with a real gun.
Gasps came from people in the crowd as Mr. Heyward pulled the gun from the bag and held it up.
“This is what my son was killed for”, said Mr. Heyward as he held the toy gun for the crowd. He went on to explain what happened the day his son was shot. He said his son was playing cops & robbers in the stairwell. When they encountered officer George, Nicholas dropped the gun and said “We’re only playing, we’re only playing” and was shot in the stomach in mid sentence, according to the other kids who were playing with Nicholas.
Mr. Heyward told another story with NYPD and his son when officers came to the area where they live and drew their gun pointing it directly at Nicholas Heyward Jr. when he was 12 yrs old. Police took him to the precinct and put him in a lineup. Supposedly NYPS were looking for some other kids. Mr Heyward intervened when NYPD pointed the gun at his son, saying to the cop, “Hey, that’s my son”, the cop told Mr. Heyward,, “Mind your own business.” They kidnapped my son right in front of my face”, Mr. Heyward broke down.
Photos by April Watters:
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