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March For Justice in Police Shooting Death of John Collado

By DNAinfo Staff on September 17, 2011 6:54pm

Dozens of protesters marched down Broadway in Inwood on Sept. 17, 2011, seeking justice in the death of John Collado, who was shot to death by a cop during a drug bust.
Dozens of protesters marched down Broadway in Inwood on Sept. 17, 2011, seeking justice in the death of John Collado, who was shot to death by a cop during a drug bust.
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DNAinfo/Patrick Wall

By Patrick Wall and Tom Liddy

DNAinfo Reporters

INWOOD — Dozens of protesters marched down Broadway Saturday afternoon to protest the police shooting death of Inwood grandfather John Collado.

The march, led by Collado's family, wound its way from his house on Post Avenue to the 34th Precinct stationhouse in Washington Heights.

"Justice! Go! Go! John Collado! Live! Live!" they shouted along with "What do we want? Justice! When do we want it? Now!"

"It's been really rough," said his daughter, Jenny Collado, 25. "Just the fact that [the officer] is living his everyday life like he didn't take my father away from me."

Collado was shot on Sept. 6 after he intervened in a drug bust on Post Avenue near his home.  Cops said that he placed the plainclothes officer in a choke hold, leaving him on the verge of passing out.

John Collado was shot and killed by a police officer on Sept. 6, 2011.
John Collado was shot and killed by a police officer on Sept. 6, 2011.
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But Collado's family lawyer said that the father of five was merely trying to break up a fight as a Good Samaritan and didn't choke the officer.

Some of the protesters had heart-shaped balloons that said "John Collado: In Our Hearts Always."  Others wore t-shirts with his photo on the front and "Justice for John Collado" inscribed on the back.

More than a dozen NYPD Community Affairs officers accompanied the march, which spanned two neighborhoods and involved the young and old.

"He was a wonderful person," said Jenny Collado. "He was helpful to everyone. He was loved by everyone.

"I hope [the officer] pays for what he did."

Collado's sister-in-law Arelis Collado said she felt that the NYPD had been making too many mistakes recently.

"Things have got to change for the best," she said. "The police department for some reason are not thinking before acting.

"There are too many mistakes. They act and then they react."

She said that the stress has taken a toll on their family, especially Collado's mother, who was hospitalized after the shooting.

"It's been extremely hard," she said. "We never thought that's how he would end his days.

"He was a very good son.  He used to take care of his mother. I don't know who's going to now."

In front of the 34th Precinct stationhouse at Broadway and 183rd Street, family friend Manny Velazquez, 42, a former City Council contender and Community Board 12 President, spoke into megaphone:

"I knew Johnny since the age of 12. You got the wrong guy," he said. "You made a mistake. He was a good man, a family man. Although mistakes do happen, we don't hear you coming out and saying you made a mistake.

"Everytime you come to work, you will see the sadness in our face and the mistrust."

The day after Collado died, his son and namesake, John Collado, Jr., 22, got a tattoo to match his father's with the words of one of his favorite musicians "soy quien soy."

"My father was trying to break them up," he said. "The cop was in plainclothes. He didn't put him in a choke hold - that's false.

"We're not just going to let it go away. We're going to make sure justice is served.

Collado Jr. said that his dad was a guy who loved to make people laugh and enjoyed singing, cigars and dancing.

He still hasn't come to terms with the loss, picking up the phone the other day to call his dad about something he saw on TV.

"I picked up the phone to call him, and I was heartbroken," he said.