Nationwide — The NYPD has apologized for falsely accusing Camden Lee, a 15-year-old teen from Brooklyn, of a deadly taking pictures at a parade in September, admitting the error months later after the teenager acquired loss of life threats and public outrage adopted.
The incident started in September in the course of the West Indian American Day Parade. Police posted Lee’s picture on social media, labeling him as a suspect within the taking pictures that killed 25-year-old Denzel Chan and injured 4 others. The picture unfold rapidly throughout information retailers, although police privately confirmed quickly after that Lee was not concerned.
Whereas the NYPD deleted the social media posts, they didn’t publicly retract the accusation till 5 months later. Solely after media protection introduced consideration to the state of affairs did police subject a press release admitting the error.
“The NYPD ought to have instantly corrected this misstatement,” stated spokesperson Delaney Kempner. The apology got here as a part of the division’s broader effort to rebuild public belief following current criticism of its social media practices.
Lee’s household expressed disappointment with the delayed response. Their lawyer, Wylie Stecklow, stated the apology nonetheless fell wanting full accountability. He stated, “Even of their apology, they’re portray him with a brush of culpability to cowl their mistake. They’re downplaying what they did and never proudly owning as much as the truth that they put him in hurt’s means.”
Lee’s mom, Chee Chee Brock, additionally criticized the NYPD for not issuing the apology sooner and questioned why the household had by no means acquired a direct apology from the police.
“This might’ve been carried out in September after we had the assembly,” Brock stated. “They don’t perceive the injury that it induced.”
In the meantime, the taking pictures stays unsolved. Lee stated he had attended the parade with a teammate after soccer observe. When the taking pictures occurred, he was among the many crowd however was not concerned. After the preliminary social media posts, murder detectives questioned Lee however confirmed he was not a suspect.
“It takes me to a darkish place,” Lee stated. “I don’t really feel like myself anymore. I don’t have the chance to elucidate my aspect of the story. Everyone seems to be so mounted on this one picture of me: assassin.”
