photo still of police body cam video of Jerrel Garris fighting with New Rochelle Police
By Dan Murphy
The police shooting of 37-year old Jerrel Garris who died days after the July 3 incident, has now drawn the attention of New York State Attorney General Letitia James; who will now investigate. The incident began with NR police receiving “a call from a local store regarding a possible theft. The caller gave a description. The responding officers observed the man, in close proximity of the store, walking on Lincoln Avenue near North Avenue. While being placed under arrest, the man physically resisted. He was shot when he grabbed an officer’s gun, in an attempt to remove it from the holster. He was taken to a local hospital and is currently undergoing medical treatment,” stated the NRPD in a statement. Three different bodycams from officers show the same interaction: Garris is approached by officers Kari Bird, Gabrielle Chavarry, and Detective Steven Conn.
Garris continues to walk until he is encircled by the officers. At this point, a struggle ensues, and eventually Garris reaches for an officers gun and the call goes out that Garris has the gun, and he is shot. Earlier in the incident Det. Conn is heard asking for someone to “Taze” Garris, or use a Taser gun to subdue him, but Garris was not tazed before getting shot.
The family of Garris held a press conference after his shooting to explain that Garris suffered from mental illness and would never have shot a cop. “You tried to take my son away from me. My one and old son. You’re going to give me my justice,” said Raymond Fowler, Garris’ father.
The African American Advisory Committee (AAAC), issued a statement that they were, “shocked and stunned by the tragic events surrounding the New Rochelle police-involved shooting of Jarrell Garris, an unarmed, African American former resident. The AAAC continues to meet with the City of New Rochelle, NRPD and our Community Partners to determine the full extent of what took place on July 3rd when Jarrell Garris was approached by three members of the NRPD, that resulted in a struggle in which he sustained life-threatening injuries. The AAAC is calling for the immediate release of unedited bodycam footage of the July 3rd arrest and significant reform in NRPD’s protocols for interacting with the African American community and individuals with known mental health challenges. AAAC will pursue its advocacy for transparency and continue to monitor the situation,” stated AAAC members, Angela Davis Farrish – Chairperson, Min. Mark McLean – Co-Chairperson, and members Nate Adams, Kwamain Dixon, Leslie Gaskin, Rev. Dierdra Gray-Clark, Linda Tarrant-Reid.
NYSAG James announced that the “Office of Special Investigation (OSI) has opened an investigation into the death of Jarrell Garris, who died on July 10, 2023 following an encounter with members of the New Rochelle Police Department (NRPD) on July 3, 2023. Pursuant to New York State Executive Law Section 70-b, OSI assesses every incident reported to it where a police officer or a peace officer, including a corrections officer, may have caused the death of a person, by an act or omission. Under the law, the officer may be on-duty or off-duty, and the decedent may be armed or unarmed.”
