NYPD's Reckless Driving Blamed At Vigil For Japanese Student Killed By Police Cruiser
14 photos
Dozens of candles in all shapes and sizes illuminated the sidewalk—some held by mourners and others planted in snow banks.<br/>
Ryo Oyamada’s friends and family set up a memorial at 10th Street and 41st Avenue in Long Island City, Queens, a year to the day he was killed in that spot by an NYPD cruiser.<br/>
Incense is lit and added to the memorial.<br/>
Ryo’s sister, having arrived from Japan the day before, listened as others shared their memories of and thoughts about her brother.<br/>
Candles were lit, and re-lit if necessary, in the damp and breezy night.<br/>
Although mostly somber, there were brighter moments during the proceedings, which began just before 12:30 am.<br/>
In addition to candles and incense, several cigarettes were lit and placed alongside the other objects in the arrangement.<br/>
The central piece of the memorial was a handmade plaque that asked why the facts of the fatal accident were being concealed.<br/>
Ryo’s sister smiled as she placed a candle in the spot where her brother had died a year ago.<br/>
Ryo’s brother-in-law placed a lit cigarette on its end in a dish to burn away, one of many that would be added.
A surveillance camera is affixed to the side of one of the buildings almost directly across the street from where the fatal accident took place, an especially frustrating detail since no video footage of the incident has been released by the NYPD.<br/>
Curious onlookers passed by from time to time, some remembering the accident that claimed Ryo’s life on that street.<br/>
Ryo’s sister and a friend held candles and listened as another in attendance sang a song. <br/>
Ryo was memorialized by family, friends, and others who had not known him, but were touched by the tragedy nonetheless.<br/>