BRONX, N.Y. (PIX11) -- Elected officials and criminal justice advocates held a press conference outside City Hall to react to the decision not to fire the two NYPD officers involved in the fatal shooting of Kawaski Trawick.
Trawick, an aspiring dancer who suffered from mental health issues, was living in a supportive housing facility in the Bronx when he called 911 on the night of April 14, 2019.
Trawick was initially locked out of his Bronx apartment before firefighters let him back in. NYPD Officers Brandon Thompson and Herbert Davis subsequently responded and pushed open the door, finding Trawick shirtless and holding a knife.
In body-worn camera footage, Trawick can be heard telling them he was cooking and asking why they are inside his home. Moments later, the officers tased Trawick and then fired the deadly shots.
The district attorney in the Bronx declined to bring charges against the officers. An internal New York Police Department investigation found no wrongdoing on the part of Thompson or his partner.
The Civilian Complaint Review Board did file charges but after the expiration of the statute of limitations.
On Monday, Trawick’s supporters, including Vocal-NY member Keith Fuller, read a statement from Trawick’s parents and accused the NYPD of dragging its feet on forwarding the officers’ bodycam video.
"These officers did not do their job," said Justice Committee Executive Director Loyda Colon on Monday. "They did not follow their training."
Mayor Eric Adams, responding to criticism, tells PIX11 News: “The death of Kawaski Trawick is a tragedy and our hearts go out to his family. I’ve dedicated my career to police reform and ensuring our officers have better relationships with the communities they serve. It is vital that we all learn from this loss of life and use it to make positive strides towards better policing and care for those living with severe mental illness.”
This story comprises reporting from The Associated Press.
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