The foster home of a teenager who was blown away by an
off-duty detective during an alleged robbery wants to haul NYPD brass to court
to learn more details about that deadly shooting.
The nonprofit agency Graham Windham, legal guardian of
17-year-old Antawin White, filed a civil petition yesterday in Manhattan
Supreme Court, demanding more answers about the teen’s death.
White and a 15-year-old friend approached the detective on
Jan. 30 last year in the Bushwick neighborhood of Brooklyn and tried to rob
him, police said.
White allegedly struck the cop in the face with a cane,
while his accomplice simulated that he had a gun, officials said. That’s when
the detective pulled his weapon and fatally shot White once in the chest,
according to police.
Nonprofit Graham Windham said the NYPD has repeatedly
ignored Freedom of Information Law requests for information, citing an
"ongoing criminal investigation."
The agency is skeptical of the official NYPD account.
"This portrait of a violent menace did not comport with
the Antawin White that Graham Windham knew,” according to the complaint. “And
it stood in stark contrast to the Antawin White whom those who grew up with,
taught and lived with him knew."
Cops can produce reports by blacking out names of witnesses,
the agency said.
"Graham Windham respectfully requests that this court
order the NYPD to produce appropriately redacted documents concerning Antawin
White's death,” according to the complaint.
"In its capacity as legal guardian, and de facto
parent, Graham Windham sought information about the shooting by way of FOIL
request to the NYPD. It received no information in response to its FOIL
request."
The agency said its staff was devastated by White's untimely
death: "In the early morning hours of January 31, 2012 two Graham Windham
employees identified his body at the coroner's office — a third employee was
too overcome with grief to do so."
A lawyer for the NYPD or city could not be immediately
reached for comment this morning.