May 21, 2007
NYPD Faces Critics Once Again After Bronx Shooting
The Friday night shooting of an unarmed driver in the Bronx has sparked more tension between the NYPD and community. The victim, Fermin Arzu, who was shot by an off-duty police officer in the Longwood section of the Bronx, was an immigrant from the Honduras, and the senior Honduran diplomat, Javier Hernandez, criticized the police in the NY Times: "The police cannot shoot crazily or indiscriminately. Before, there was courtesy, now there is intimidation, and I think it should be the other way around."
Arzu's niece made her family's concerns known, saying, "Just because they had a little power they decided to take someone's life." Arzu's faughter Katherine said, “I have no words. The cop shot my father and he needs to pay for all of this.” And Arzu's fiancee, Thomas Sabio, who hours before the shooting had been discharged from the hospital after a masectomy, said, "It's just like Sean Bell. The police kill people for no reason."
The NYPD has promised a full investigation, as the details of the shooting remain unclear and use of deadly force when a vehicle is once again debated. Here's how the AP describes the incident:
Police said it began when Arzu slammed into a parked car on a side street near the officer's home.Departmental guidelines say that police officers should not shoot "their firearms at or from a moving vehicle unless deadly physical force is being used against the police officer or another person present, by means other than a moving vehicle." It's unclear whether the officer, Raphael Lora, thought that Arzu was reaching for a gun, but no weapon was found.Witnesses told investigators the minivan backed up and drove about a block before Lora, who was on foot and out of uniform, caught up to the vehicle. He was standing at the driver's open door when the minivan lurched forward.
The officer discharged his 9mm pistol five times, hitting the driver once, police said.
A spokeswoman for the city medical examiner's office said the bullet entered the driver's back and pierced his heart, left lung and aorta, but he still managed to drive a block before his minivan struck another vehicle and caught fire. The car bumped onto a sidewalk and came to rest against the wall of a church.
The driver was pronounced dead at the scene. The officer suffered a minor arm injury and was treated at a hospital and released.
Kirsten Foy, spokeswoman for the Reverend Al Sharpton's National Action Network, said, "If you just got into an accident, would it be unreasonable to say you were going to reach into the glove compartment for your registration or an insurance card? Is it reasonable for a police officer to assume you're reaching for a gun and not legitimate paperwork?" Sharpton, who said he had met with Arzu's family, said, "There seems to be, from what we heard so far, no logical reason for this man to be dead," and said the situation "smells."
Patrick Lynch of the Patrolman's Benevolent Association said, "Law enforcement has a legal obligation to conduct a full and thorough investigation of the facts before coming to any conclusion. Those who make snap judgments without all the facts do not serve the best interests of this city or those involved in the incident."
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these cops are just murdering people. im fucking freaked out, personally.
That guy's faughter sounds pissed.
I'm less freaked out about cop shootings than i am about the gangs of unruly teenagers infiltrating the city this summer.
I'm less freaked out about cop shootings than i am about the gangs of unruly teenagers infiltrating the city this summer.
This is what happens when cops grow up on John McClane, Vic Mackey, and Jack Bauer as examples of good law enforcement.
these cops are just murdering people. im fucking freaked out, personally.
Hey nick, how do you fucking freak out unpersonally????
Why do we never give cops the benefit of the doubt? Any time there is a shooting by the police, people are up in arms before there is any investigation. Why don't we just let them go around unarmed? Would you be less freaked out then?
it's hilarious to me that no one is outraged when innocent people are murderded on the street as a result of robbery, car jacking, or any other violent crime... from repeat violent offenders who are out of bail, or released from prison...
lets only focus on the isolated police incidents rather than the problem of the general public's lack of respect for "thy neighbor's human life".
Because no one expects to be killed by the NYPD,
unless you're black or a minority,
then it's open season.
Hold on, while I take out my wallet.
OMG amadoo, I thought you were reaching for a gun!!!
Jeez, number 8, you're like a broken record. Why don't you bring in more unrelated topics into this discussion.
The issue at hand is this particular incident: Did a man deserve to get shot and killed because he hit a parked car?
The cop had eyeballs; if the guy was trying to flee the scene of a fender-bender with a parked car, get the guy's license plate number, don't whip out a gun and start firing. No matter how you try and spin it, that's plain wrong.
Very good points, no. 11
very good points indeed, thank you.
This was a vehicle dispute that resulted in an unarmed man getting killed. no matter how no. 8 or the PBA tries to spin it.
#7, I'll be inclined to give the cops the benefit of the doubt when they start shooting some white folks, 'kay?
Hey Gothamist, I love you, but please start using spell check. I see this kind of stuff in posts all the time:
Arzu's faughter Katherine
hey the guy did run away from a scene of a accident and when the cop try to stop him.
the cop could of thought he was reaching for something.
people ran way from things generally have something to hide.
stop protecting criminals!!!
Hi Gothamist, I love you, but please start using spell check! I see mistakes like this all the time in posts:
Arzu's faughter Katherine
#11: i was referring to the comments, not the article. perhaps a little reading comprehension on your part is necessary. while i agree with some of your points, we weren't there therefore an investigation will lead to the outcome of these allegations.
#11: i was referring to the comments, not the article. perhaps a little reading comprehension on your part is necessary. while i agree with some of your points, we weren't there therefore an investigation will lead to the outcome of these allegations.
He was not a criminal, stop trying to spin this to your advantage.
read the NYPD policy above, no shooting at cars.
this is not Hollywood.
If he was reaching for something, where is the gun?
there was none and again, you're reaching.
I totally agree, stop protecting criminals!!!!
The NYPD.
I added one extra explanation point.
blacks always seem to bring it upon themselves to get into these situations.
whether the driver had a gun or not is not the issue. reaching for anything is always the issue. when it's dark or nighttime, if you're reaching for a banana in your back pocket, in the dark, it can, as a wallet, can look like a gun or an explosive device.
how about this, instead of acting like a hot-shot, just pull over, put your flashers on, place the car in park, have your ID ready and place your hands on the steering wheel. easy peasy.
Is it so unreasonable to say that his registration was in the glove compartment?
and, this cop was off duty. why start the confrontation and finish it with a gun?
you're right again, the only hot shot was the cop.
easy no?
wallet, not a gun, banana, not a gun.
you're reaching to the moon over here.
Maybe a wallet and a banana is a gun if you're black.
Number 13 and others, do you honestly believe the NYPD goes around this city trying to randomly murder non-whites? Get a grip.
Honestly, no one is perfect but I get really sick of the way the NYPD is demonized by hypocrites who are only able to walk down the street because of the safety they provide. These officers are paid too little (especially compared to suburban departments with much less crime) to take big risks and then get abused and vilified by the media. The city is the way it is now not because of Giuliani or Bloomberg or any politician as an individual. It is safe because of the police.
And while I don't know how many white people have been shot by the NYPD, I can tell you that the NYPD does more to *protect* minorities in this city than anyone else, including the leaders of the black community in NYC. Sharpton and Co. get people riled up when something bad happens, but the NYPD are out there on the street EVERY DAY protecting minorities in low income neighborhoods. Get some perspective for crying out loud.
Not to mention that the police officer wasn't in uniform. I certainly wouldn't pull over for some civilian brandishing a gun.
You believe what you want to believe.
show me a white person who was shot and killed by a cop within the last, say 20 or less years. oops, I see you answered that question.
I see you brought in your Sharpton card to the argument.
You can get sick all you want, honey.
You take care of that sickness now, ya hear?
This person is a criminal, the just committed a hit and run.. a crime... what happened when the cop caught up to him and he tried to drive away, I guess we'll have to wait and see what they find out.
This only shows one thing: black people can't drive for shit.
Apparently that's punishable by death in NYC.
Wow 26, that really addresses the point I am trying to make.
I'm not playing any "card", if you want you can take his name out of the argument and my point still stands. The police protect minorities every day. Most crimes are committed in minority neighborhoods against minorities. And contrary to what you seem to believe, those crimes are not committed by our police.
#26... just a few weeks ago the NYPD killed a white man in the west village. and to back up anna #29.... most crime in this city happens in the projects and the NYPD is their to help stop, deter or arrest individuals who create the crime.
when will people start taking accountibility for their and their community actions?
i remember a protest this past winter on 125th street and 5th avenue led by Al Sharpton and his disbarred cronies prostesting white businessess... what exactly did that accomplish except for more hatred?
#26... just a few weeks ago the NYPD killed a white man in the west village. and to back up anna #29.... most crime in this city happens in the projects and the NYPD is their to help stop, deter or arrest individuals who create the crime.
when will people start taking accountibility for their and their community actions?
i remember a protest this past winter on 125th street and 5th avenue led by Al Sharpton and his disbarred cronies prostesting white businessess... what exactly did that accomplish except for more hatred?