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NYPD killed Kawaski Trawick 19 months ago. It's a case I've been reporting on.
NYPD finally released video Tues
But it won’t release it all. It won’t even let *Trawick’s family* see it
NYPD told fam’s lawyer @Rsquareesq it needs “to protect sensitive images of Mr. Trawick.”
NYPD finally released video Tues
But it won’t release it all. It won’t even let *Trawick’s family* see it
NYPD told fam’s lawyer @Rsquareesq it needs “to protect sensitive images of Mr. Trawick.”
Trawick, who was 32 & Black, was alone in his own apt, shot 112 seconds after police arrived.
It happened 605 days ago.
The NYPD...
hasn’t released its investigation.
hasn’t released the full footage.
hasn’t disciplined any officers. https://www.propublica.org/article/it-wasnt-the-first-time-the-nypd-killed-someone-in-crisis-for-kawaski-trawick-it-only-took-112-seconds
It happened 605 days ago.
The NYPD...
hasn’t released its investigation.
hasn’t released the full footage.
hasn’t disciplined any officers. https://www.propublica.org/article/it-wasnt-the-first-time-the-nypd-killed-someone-in-crisis-for-kawaski-trawick-it-only-took-112-seconds
The only thing the NYPD has said publicly came 604 days ago, the day after Trawick was killed.
The shooting “appears to be justified,” @nypdchiefofdept told reporters, saying that Trawick had charged at the officers with a knife and stick.
The shooting “appears to be justified,” @nypdchiefofdept told reporters, saying that Trawick had charged at the officers with a knife and stick.
But I got footage, and, soon after, @BronxDAClark released footage too.
It shows that one officer — experienced and Black — repeatedly tried to stop his less-experienced, white partner from first tasering and then shooting Trawick.
Watch this if u can
It shows that one officer — experienced and Black — repeatedly tried to stop his less-experienced, white partner from first tasering and then shooting Trawick.
Watch this if u can
Trawick was a dancer, deeply loved by his family. His sister called him her "super hero."
He also struggled w/ mental health & drugs. The night he was killed, he called 911 after getting locked out of his apt.
Firefighters came and let him back in.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BLciuOdhYAW/?utm_source=ig_embed
He also struggled w/ mental health & drugs. The night he was killed, he called 911 after getting locked out of his apt.
Firefighters came and let him back in.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BLciuOdhYAW/?utm_source=ig_embed
Then the officers arrived.
Trawick was standing by his stove holding a stick & serrated bread knife. “Why are you in my home,” he asked.
The Black, older officer told his partner:
“We ain’t gonna tase him”
and
“Don’t, don’t, don’t”
https://www.bronxda.nyc.gov/downloads/pdf/annual-reports/BronxDA-Trawick-Report.pdf
Trawick was standing by his stove holding a stick & serrated bread knife. “Why are you in my home,” he asked.
The Black, older officer told his partner:
“We ain’t gonna tase him”
and
“Don’t, don’t, don’t”
https://www.bronxda.nyc.gov/downloads/pdf/annual-reports/BronxDA-Trawick-Report.pdf
As Trawick was standing still about 7 ft away, the younger officer, Brendan Thompson, fired his Taser.
The NYPD tells officers they should give a verbal warning if they can.
Officer Thompson didn’t.
https://www1.nyc.gov/assets/ccrb/downloads/pdf/investigations_pdf/pg221-08-use-of-conducted-energy-weapons.pdf
The NYPD tells officers they should give a verbal warning if they can.
Officer Thompson didn’t.
https://www1.nyc.gov/assets/ccrb/downloads/pdf/investigations_pdf/pg221-08-use-of-conducted-energy-weapons.pdf
After Trawick is hit w/ the Taser, he falls to the floor. Then he jumps back and goes toward the officers screaming, “Get away!”
Thompson raises his gun.
*His partner tries to stop him for third time*, pushing the gun down, saying, “don’t, don’t, don’t, don’t, don’t.”
Thompson raises his gun.
*His partner tries to stop him for third time*, pushing the gun down, saying, “don’t, don’t, don’t, don’t, don’t.”
Officer Thompson fired three times, paused briefly, then fired again.
He hit Trawick twice, killing him almost instantly.
https://www.bronxda.nyc.gov/downloads/pdf/annual-reports/BronxDA-Trawick-Report.pdf
He hit Trawick twice, killing him almost instantly.
https://www.bronxda.nyc.gov/downloads/pdf/annual-reports/BronxDA-Trawick-Report.pdf
I asked former and current NYPD officers who’ve trained their colleagues for exactly these kinds of situations to look at the video.
They told me it shouldn’t have happened.
“What was the exigency” a commander said. “The officers created the exigency.”
They told me it shouldn’t have happened.
“What was the exigency” a commander said. “The officers created the exigency.”
The NYPD trains officers to de-escalate confrontations w/ people who are in crisis. To ask Qs, and not simply give orders.
The officers “could have just closed the door,” one former detective told me.
https://www.propublica.org/article/it-wasnt-the-first-time-the-nypd-killed-someone-in-crisis-for-kawaski-trawick-it-only-took-112-seconds
The officers “could have just closed the door,” one former detective told me.
https://www.propublica.org/article/it-wasnt-the-first-time-the-nypd-killed-someone-in-crisis-for-kawaski-trawick-it-only-took-112-seconds
So: You have officers who didn’t follow training, escalated a situation, and then one shot and killed a young man.
What has happened to the officers?
That’s one of the few very things the NYPD *would* say:
“The officers involved are on Active Duty.”
What has happened to the officers?
That’s one of the few very things the NYPD *would* say:
“The officers involved are on Active Duty.”
Meanwhile, the NYPD is currently fighting a lawsuit (from @NYLPI) that demands the release of the full footage.
The NYPD has said doing so would “interfere” with its investigation and be an “invasion of personal privacy.”
The NYPD has said doing so would “interfere” with its investigation and be an “invasion of personal privacy.”
We checked in yesterday with the NYPD about the case and the suit. It said the investigation *is* complete, but the commissioner still has to review it.
Officer Thompson did not respond to multiple requests for comment. His partner, Officer Hebert Davis, declined our request for comment.
Here’s the story — which @mrsimon22 helped do:
https://www.propublica.org/article/it-wasnt-the-first-time-the-nypd-killed-someone-in-crisis-for-kawaski-trawick-it-only-took-112-seconds
Here’s the video — which @lucaswaldron made. https://www.propublica.org/article/the-nypd-said-the-killing-of-kawaski-trawick-appears-to-be-justified-video-shows-officers-escalated-the-situation
https://www.propublica.org/article/it-wasnt-the-first-time-the-nypd-killed-someone-in-crisis-for-kawaski-trawick-it-only-took-112-seconds
Here’s the video — which @lucaswaldron made. https://www.propublica.org/article/the-nypd-said-the-killing-of-kawaski-trawick-appears-to-be-justified-video-shows-officers-escalated-the-situation
@RosaGoldensohn at @thecityny has been reporting on Trawick’s case too. It’s very much worth checking out:
https://thecity.nyc/2019/04/how-a-bronx-man-was-killed-by-police-after-dueling-911-calls.html
https://www.thecity.nyc/bronx/2020/8/16/21371424/nypd-account-in-killing-of-bronx-man-trawick-not-true-mom-says https://www.thecity.nyc/justice/2020/11/17/21572438/nypd-bodycam-bronx-shooting-kawaski-trawick-killed
https://thecity.nyc/2019/04/how-a-bronx-man-was-killed-by-police-after-dueling-911-calls.html
https://www.thecity.nyc/bronx/2020/8/16/21371424/nypd-account-in-killing-of-bronx-man-trawick-not-true-mom-says https://www.thecity.nyc/justice/2020/11/17/21572438/nypd-bodycam-bronx-shooting-kawaski-trawick-killed
Do you have information about the NYPD? Please contact me: [email protected]. I’m also on Signal, at 917-687-8406.
Here's my stuff: https://www.propublica.org/people/eric-umansky
Here's my stuff: https://www.propublica.org/people/eric-umansky
We are NOT done reporting on the NYPD. Get propublica’s biggest investigations when they publish: http://go.propublica.org/bigstory-social
