Quantcast

The DNAinfo archives brought to you by WNYC.
Read the press release here.

Hundreds Turn Out to Mourn 16-Year-Old Shot by NYPD

By  Jess Wisloski and Jesse Lent | March 23, 2013 11:34am 

EAST FLATBUSH — Two weeks after the shooting death of Kimani Gray, a 16-year-old who was shot by cops after allegedly pointing a gun at them when they approached him March 9, hundreds of mourners turned up for the wake and funeral Saturday.

Carol Gray, the grief-stricken mother of Kimani — or Kiki as he was called by family and friends — tried to rush the casket at Friday's wake, according to reports.

And on Saturday rescuers carried out a woman who was not immediately identified on a stretcher from the teenager's East Flatbush funeral service.

Sobbing uncontrollably the day before, the NY Daily News reported, Gray had arrived at the Caribe Funeral Home in Flatlands Friday, and was escorted into the viewing by City Councilman Charles Barron, who represents the district where the shooting took place.

On Saturday, at the East Flatbush church where the funeral was held, six teenaged boys carried Kimani's undersized casket into St. Genoa of Catherine Catholic Church.

More than 100 people filled the parish, including many teens with personalized hooded sweatshirts, lettered up with messages including "Justice for Kimani" and "R.I.P Kimani," with images of the young man. 

"Kimani was a good guy," said Brenda Nunez, Kimani's aunt. "He had that amazing smile."

She said she hoped he'd be remembered for all his positive qualities."There's another side. You talk to his principal, you get another story."