The New York Attorney General’s Office recently launched an investigation into an off-duty police shooting after a video of the incident surfaced, clearly refuting the officer’s version of events. Although the off-duty cop claimed the suspect had punched him, the video blatantly shows the officer firing his weapon as the unarmed man approached his car.
Shortly after midnight on July 4, off-duty NYPD Officer Wayne Isaacs was driving home after his shift when his 2002 Nissan Altima reportedly cut off Delrawn Small’s 2016 Kia in Brooklyn. After reaching a red light, Small exited his vehicle and walked toward Isaacs’ open car window.
Despite the fact that Isaacs told investigators that Small had punched him at least twice before the off-duty officer opened fire, the video revealed Small never touched Isaacs and did not even have a chance to speak before the NYPD cop abruptly shot him in the chest and head. Small immediately stumbled into several cars before collapsing on the side of the road.
“If the cop’s story is obviously false, why haven’t they arrested him?” asked Attorney Roger Wareham, who is representing Small’s family.
Not appearing to fear for his life, Isaacs could be seen in the video calmly stepping out of his vehicle and tucking his firearm back into his waistline while walking over to Small’s dying body. Instead of checking Small for weapons, Isaacs stood over his body before returning to his car to retrieve his cell phone as bystanders fled in panic.
While Isaacs reportedly called 911 to report the fatal shooting, Small’s girlfriend, Zaquanna Albert, could be seen in the video parking Small’s car before running down the street to find him. According to the NY Daily News, Small’s girlfriend and her three children witnessed the tragic shooting.
“The video is as clear as day. That everything they told us from the very beginning was a lie. Was a lie,” Small’s brother Victor Dempsey said. “Every single thing. And I don’t know how to feel now. All I know is my brother was murdered. Point-blank period murdered.”
“To just watch him stumble from car to car, knowing that he suffered, knowing that he was afraid, that was hard,” Small’s sister Victoria Davis recalled. “That’s not a video that I would ever want to see again.”
New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman’s office and the NYPD both recently announced they have launched separate investigations into the off-duty police shooting after reviewing the footage of the incident. No charges have currently been filed against Isaacs.
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