Family of Mohamed Bah, man fatally shot by police, urges DOJ to prosecute cop who admitted he never stabbed him
Hawa Bah, the mother of Mohamed Bah, calls on U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara to open a federal investigation into her son’s killing.
(Jefferson Siegel/New York Daily News)The NYPD cop who told his fellow officers to shoot an emotionally disturbed man — shouting “He’s stabbing me!” before they unleashed a fatal spray of bullets — admitted he wasn't actually hurt by anyone, the family's lawyer emphasized Thursday.
The NYPD has long contended Mohamed Bah, 28, came at officers with a knife when they arrived at his apartment in September 2012, effectively forcing them to shoot.
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara's office said it's looking at the case, but is moving too slowly, Bah's family maintains.
Randy McLaughlin, who is representing Bah's family in a $70 million lawsuit against the city, said Police Officer Edwin Mateo yelled "Shoot him! He's stabbing me!" — but admitted in a deposition Bah had indeed not stabbed him.
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McLaughlin also said he asked Mateo whether Bah was stabbing anyone, to which Mateo replied, "No," the lawyer said at a news conference.
Mateo — who was blasted by his colleague's Taser — confused the electric current with a knife, the Daily News had previously reported.
Bah stand with Gwen Carr, the mother of Eric Garner, at the Thursday rally.
(Jefferson Siegel/New York Daily News)Mohamed Bah’s mother, Hawa Bah, called on Bharara to hold the cops accountable.
"Since 2012, I’m running around, seeing people, asking for justice," she said at the press conference. "We need justice."
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Bharara's office declined comment Thursday.
The press conference, organized by the Justice Committee, also featured many New York City faith leaders as well as City Council Member Brad Lander.