Death of Sean Harris by police patchwork is questioned a year later in Nyack, NY
Kevin Adams speaks at a vigil for his younger brother Sean Harris
Kevin Adams speaks at a vigil for his younger brother Sean Harris
NYACK – About 100 people gathered at Hezekiah Easter Veterans Memorial Park in the heart of the village Friday evening to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the death of Sean Harris, which occurred after an hours-long standoff with police at his Central Nyack home.
Harris, 19, was pronounced dead on May 30, 2023.
His family continues to search for answers.
Call on the Attorney General to take action
Voices of Rockland, which first organized the memorial, had letters addressed to New York Attorney General Letitia James for people to sign and mail. The attorney general’s office is conducting a preliminary investigation into Harris’ death. The office is required by law to review any reported incident in which a police officer, peace officer or corrections officer may have caused the death of a person through an act or omission.
“To this day, one (1) year and one (1) month later, the family of Sean Harris continues to be filled with grief, pain and confusion,” the letter said. “Will you be the one to ensure accountability, justice and peace as Attorney General of the State of New York?”
Kevin Adams, Sean Harris’ older brother, thanked everyone for coming on behalf of the family. He urged people to continue to support each other, just as the community has supported them.
“It doesn’t take a tragedy, it doesn’t take a problem for a community to come together,” said Adams, a New Jersey resident. “Powerful people are stronger together.”
The memorial service in the heart of Nyack included prayers, songs and calls to action.
“We need to be as outraged as we were the day that 19-year-old baby died,” said L’Tanya Watkins, a Rockland attorney and family friend. Watkins said many people need mental health support and warned that no one should think they are immune from the type of incident that led to Harris’ death. “It could happen to you.”
What happened that day in Sean Harris’ house?
Sean Harris’ mother, Judy Adams, had contacted the Rockland County Behavioral Health Team and asked for support for her youngest son, who was 19 years old and struggling with social issues.
On May 30 of last year, two social workers came to the family’s home in Central Nyack.
Sean Harris’ family is looking for answers: Social workers called the police about teenager – now he is dead
The social workers then went outside. They called the police. Adams later said she had no knowledge of this.
A statement from Clarkstown police on June 6 said Harris was carrying a baseball bat, “destroying property” and “threatening to kill his mother.”
Adams described herself as having a verbal exchange with her son. She said she did not feel threatened.
Soon the street was full of police vehicles.
At one point, police fired what police described as non-lethal ammunition into a glass door. A side door was also smashed, Adams said.
After an hours-long standoff, police entered the building and reported that Sean Harris had been found in the bathroom with pill bottles surrounding him. He was pronounced dead at Montefiore Nyack Hospital.
The family said Friday they still have not received autopsy results. A freedom of information request from lohud.com for the autopsy report was denied by Rockland County.
What’s next
Sean Harris’ family files lawsuit against Rockland County and Clarkstown Police.
A lawsuit filed last fall alleges false imprisonment, assault, wrongful death, negligence, intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress, willful indifference to medical care and denial of medical care. It also cites civil rights violations.
What happened to Sean Harris: Family of 19-year-old from Central Nyack who died after police operation sues Clarkstown, Rockland
The family is represented by Randolph McLaughlin and Debra Cohen, co-chairs of the Civil Rights Practice Group of Newman Ferrara LLP in Manhattan and law professors at Pace University.
The New York State Attorney General’s Office of Special Investigations continues to conduct a preliminary assessment of the May 30 incident, an office spokesperson said this week. If the assessment indicates an officer caused the death, the Attorney General’s Special Investigations Unit will conduct a full investigation.
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