NYPD Killed a Black Man Because He Was Wielding a Pipe Like It Was a Gun

NYC police shot Saheed Vassell, 34, who had bipolar disorder. Vassell had reportedly been arrested 28 times since 1999. His record: a first-degree gang assault charge, possession of a firearm and a few assault charges. He was also arrested for armed robbery, grand larceny, criminal mischief, driving without a license and disorderly conduct. The last time he was arrested was in 2013 for assault. Vassell was not sentenced to time in prison for any of the charges.

The shooting has sparked anger aimed at the NYPD, protests from Black Lives Matter and activist Linda Sarsour. NYPD claimed that Vassell was repeatedly thrusting a metal object that looked like a gun into the faces of several people – including a woman holding the hand of her child. The weapon turned out to be an L-shaped section of pipe. None of the officers involved - two white, one Hispanic, one black and one Asian - were wearing body cameras.

His mother asked why he was not shot in the foot, and claimed he was killed because he was black. Police said that the verbal command “drop it” was given three different times. “He is not stupid, he would never have done that,” his mother said. Others also disputed the police’s story.

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