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NYPD Shooting Victim Kimani Gray's Mom 'Not Pleased' with DA Investigation

By Ben Fractenberg | March 20, 2013 4:12pm | Updated on March 20, 2013 4:47pm

BROOKLYN — The mother of Kimani Gray, the allegedly armed teen shot and killed by police in East Flatbush earlier this month, met with the Brooklyn District Attorney's office Wednesday to demand an investigation into the two officers who shot her 16-year-old son.

"They haven't done anything," Carol Gray said. "We're not pleased with the way they're handling the investigation and we want an independent investigation, just so the truth comes out."

After an hourlong meeting with Brooklyn DA Charles Hynes' office, Gray stood alongside City Councilman Charles Barron as Barron asked why the cops were still on the force when they had several civil rights suits against them. 

Officer Jovaniel Cordova has been sued twice and Sgt. Mourad Mourad has been sued three times for civil rights violations.

"How come they were still on the force when they had all these violations against them?" Barron said. "We want answers. This office has to work for the people. They are relying too much on the police to get the story."

Barron called for an independent investigation and a federal civil rights probe. He also said the Gray family would file suit against the city.

The Brooklyn DA's office and the NYPD did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Police said that Kimani Gray, 16, was shot on March 9 when he pointed a loaded .38-caliber pistol at two plainclothes officers on East 58th Street in Brooklyn. He was struck seven times.

The shooting, which Police Commissioner Ray Kelly has defended, touched off nearly a week of protests and rioting in the area over what some have called excessive police force.

Several witnesses told DNAinfo.com New York Gray had his hands up and was lowering himself to the ground when the officers shot him

Demonstrators smashed a police officer in the face with a brick and vandalized a Rite Aid during the rallies last week, officials said.

"We want justice," said Carol Gray, who has condemned the violence. "There will be peace if we have justice."

Gray, a high school sophomore, had previously been arrested for breaking into a car, possession of stolen property, grand larceny and rioting. Police sources claimed he was a member of the Bloods street gang.

Carol Gray acknowledged her son's troubled past, but called the shooting unjustified.

"He is not the public's angel, but he's my angel and he's my baby and he was slaughtered and I want to know why," she said at a previous press conference. "Even after the first shot, why the second bullet? Why the third bullet? Why the fourth bullet? Why?"

Also on Tuesday, the Gray family announced funeral arrangements for the 16-year-old.

A memorial and viewing will be held at Carib Funeral Home and Floral Studio at 1922 Utica Ave. on March 22.

The funeral will take place at 9 a.m. March 23 at St. Catherine of Genoa Roman Catholic Church at 530 Linden Blvd.