Delrawn Small (left) and Deravis Rogers (right). Images courtesy of The New York Daily News and Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Damning new details have emerged in the death of 37-year-old Delrawn Small, the New York man fatally wounded by an off-duty police officer in the early hours of July 4.
According to The New York Daily News, NYPD Officer Wayne Isaacs has been stripped of his badge and shield after newly released surveillance video revealed discrepancies in his initial testimony.
Small and Isaacs were involved in a traffic dispute shortly after midnight when Isaacs, who was driving his personal car, reportedly cut Small off in traffic, Atlanta Black Star reports. In his initial statement, the officer told authorities he shot and killed Small after the New York man approached his car at a stoplight and repeatedly punched him in the face. The officer reportedly fired three point-blank shots at Small while his girlfriend and her kids watched in horror from their vehicle.
But newly released surveillance video shows the altercation never happened; in fact, Isaacs began shooting moments after Small exited his vehicle.
The officer has since been placed on modified duty and will work a desk job while the NYPD and the state Attorney General’s office investigate evidence, the New York Daily News reports.
“As Special Prosecutor, I am committed to conducting a full, fair and independent investigation of this tragedy, and will follow the facts and evidence — including this video evidence — wherever they lead,” New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said in a statement. “As our investigation continues, we urge any witnesses who may have additional information to come forward to our office. My heart goes out to the Small family during this painful period.”
According to Police Commissioner Bill Bratton, the NYPD’s Force Investigation Division is still presenting evidence from the tragic case.
“They’re still seeking additional videos,” Bratton said. “They’re still seeking to identify the motorist who was … stopped at the red light that may have witnessed some of the circumstances that occurred there.”
Two weeks ago, a similar incident of deadly police misconduct occurred in Midtown in Atlanta.
According to WSB-TV, Atlanta police Officer James Burns was terminated for the shooting death of Deravis Rogers, whom he suspected of breaking into a car.
Authorities were called in for back-up after an off-duty officer working security at the Monroe Place apartments reportedly saw a man trying to steal car. Burns immediately spotted Rogers as he arrived on the scene.
According to another officer who was present, Rogers hopped in a car and attempted to drive away; that’s when Officer Burns shot him in the head.
“We know the officer did not ID the person in the vehicle” Sgt. Warren Pickard told the news station.
Police said Burns was in violation of the department’s policy, as he fired his gun without really knowing who was in the vehicle. The department’s internal review also found the officer’s decision to shoot Rogers constituted excessive force, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Family members of the deceased Atlanta man expressed relief that the accused officer was fired. However, they said they won’t be fully satisfied until Burns is charged with murder, according to WSB-TV.
“Something has got to be done,” Rogers’ aunt said. “I don’t know what, or how. Officer James Burns was wrong.”
