The family of Ramarley Graham, the unarmed teenager who was shot to death by a police officer three years ago, has agreed to receive $3.9 million in a settlement with the city over a wrongful death suit.
Graham was 18 years old when police officer Richard Haste killed him on February 2nd, 2012 in his grandmother's Bronx home. The officer, who reportedly believed Graham was taking part in a drug deal and did not have a warrant to enter the home, was not indicted for manslaughter, after an initial indictment was thrown out when an error was made by the Bronx District Attorney's office.
The Graham family sought compensation for emotional damages, in addition to mistreatment by the NYPD. After Graham was killed, his grandmother, Patricia Hartley, was detained at the local precinct for seven hours and forced to give a statement against her will. Haste also allegedly threatened to shoot her. Hartley will receive $450,000 and Graham's brother, who was also home during the shooting, will receive $500,000; Graham's mother will receive $40,000 and Graham's estate will be awarded $2.95 million.
Graham was fatally shot in the chest in his grandmother's bathroom while he attempted to flush a small amount of marijuana down the toilet, and Haste claimed he believed the teenager was armed. No gun was found at the scene.
