Protesters call for charges against officer who killed unarmed teen Jayson Negron
HARTFORD, Conn. -- Protesters on Monday called for criminal charges against a Connecticut police officer who killed an unarmed 15-year-old boy and for the release of surveillance and other video that shows the May shooting.
Demonstrators sought to bring attention to the fatal shooting of Jayson Negron by Bridgeport rookie officer James Boulay after a traffic stop in Bridgeport. A 21-year-old passenger, Julian Fyffe, also was wounded.
Activists chanted "no justice, no peace" and other slogans outside the state Supreme Court in Hartford before blocking a street between the court and the state Capitol. Some carried signs that read, "Charge Boulay with murder." The protest also included 20 minutes of silence to mark what demonstrators said was the time it took for police to call for emergency medical help as Negron and Fyffe lay in the street.
"Officer Boulay acted as judge, jury and executioner for what should have been a routine traffic stop," said Kerry Ellington, an organizer with New Haven-based People Against Police Brutality.
Negron's sister, Jazmarie Melendez, accused authorities of covering up what really happened to him.
"We know that they're doing everything in their power to make Jayson look like he was in the wrong when we know that he wasn't," she said. "We're tired of the lies."
Seven people were arrested during the protest for disorderly conduct, Deputy Chief Brian Foley of the Hartford Police Department told CBS affiliate WFSB, calling the arrests peaceful and voluntary.
"While this incident didn't happen in Hartford, it's something that affects the entire community, and we're well aware of the sensitivity of the entire issue," Foley said.
Waterbury State's Attorney Maureen Platt, the prosecutor investigating the shooting, told The Associated Press that she expects to get the state police report next Monday, and then will begin her review. She said there is no timetable for a decision on whether criminal charges are warranted.
"I have to look through the report, see if I want any other things done and reach a conclusion," she said. "They always take a while with these investigations because they have to be thorough and it's important for public confidence that they are thorough."
Boulay remains on paid administrative leave per department policy, Bridgeport officials said. He declined to comment to the AP on Monday.
Bridgeport Police Chief Armando Perez has said that Boulay opened fire when a stolen SUV driven by Negron suddenly went into reverse and nearly ran over Boulay. Officers had stopped the SUV after a chase and were trying to remove Negron and Fyffe when Boulay fired his gun, Perez said.
Fyffe has said there was no chase and he and Negron were trying to surrender. He said the SUV started moving in reverse by accident when Boulay tried to pull Negron out of the vehicle and Negron's foot came off the brake. Fyffe said Boulay stepped back into the clear and began shooting.
No one in the car had a weapon.
Fyffe has filed a lawsuit against police and the city.
