Son wants charges in killing by police
White Plains dad shot by cops in Nov. incident
March 10, 2012 (updated story, with video and photo)
Kenneth Chamberlain Jr. speaks out: Kenneth Chamberlain Jr. speaks out on his father's death. Video by Carucha Meuse
WHITE PLAINS -- The son of a 68-year-old man shot dead by police called Saturday for criminal charges in the case.
"I don't want a manslaughter charge; I want a second-degree murder charge," Kenneth Chamberlain Jr. told about 150 supporters and community leaders in the Thomas H. Slater Center.
In a forum, Chamberlain and lawyers for his family said they would demand prosecution in a case they called racist, based on recordings of the Nov. 19, 2011, encounter at the elder Chamberlain's apartment 135 S. Lexington Ave. The family and attorneys said that, on the recordings, an officer can be heard cursing at the elder Chamberlain and calling him a racial slur shortly before the man was shot. Kenneth Chamberlain Sr. died two hours after the shooting at White Plains Hospital.
Kenneth Chamberlain Jr., center, speaks Saturday during a forum to update the public about the death of his father, Kenneth Chamberlain Sr., who was shot by White Plains police at Thomas H. Slater Center in White Plains. / Carucha L. Meuse/ The Journal News
Video and audio of the encounter was captured by a stun gun used by one of the 12 officers who responded to the call, by a security hallway security camera and by a medical alert device connected to a telephone that had summoned police in the first place.
After the shooting, White Plains Public Safety Commissioner David Chong said police had broken down the door to enter Chamberlain's apartment because they were not sure whether anyone else inside was in danger. He said Chamberlain attacked officers with a hatchet and a knife.
Chong did not return a call to his cellphone Saturday.
Randolph McLaughlin, a civil rights lawyer representing the Chamberlain family, said Saturday that the video recording from the stun gun shows the senior Chamberlain "standing in his boxer shorts, his hands by his side, not charging or threatening anyone," after police broke down his door.
He also said an officer can be heard ordering the video turned off just before Chamberlain was shot.
Organizers of the forum encouraged those attending the event to write to Westchester County District Attorney Janet DiFiore, urging that all the recordings be made available to a grand jury.
McLaughlin said if they were not satisfied that the case is handled properly locally, they would push for federal charges.
Since the shooting, the younger Chamberlain said, people often ask him how he's doing.
"Day by day, I'm OK," he said. "But I'm angry as hell, because my father's not here."
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Inquiries about this case may be directed to Professor McLaughlin at 212-619-5400