A US judge has dismissed charges against a New York police officer who is accused of shooting dead an unarmed teenager at his grandmother\u00e2\u201e\u00a2s home.\n<\/p>\n
Bronx Supreme Court Justice Steven Barrett threw out manslaughter charges against Officer Richard Haste on Wednesday, over an error committed by the assistant district attorney.\n<\/p>\n
The judge stated that the prosecution drew a false impression of how Haste\u00e2\u201e\u00a2s fellow officers influenced his decision to fire his gun, which killed 18-year-old Ramarley Graham on February 2.\n<\/p>\n
The ruling brought forth a volley of cheers from police officers who prowled the courtroom, as the victim\u00e2\u201e\u00a2s parents and friends sobbed bitter tears.\n<\/p>\n
\u00c5\u201cThere is nothing to cheer here,\u201d said Jeffrey Emdin, attorney for the Graham family, adding that \u00c5\u201ca young man lost his life, and that is the man who took that life\u2026. It puts salt in the wounds.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Graham was shot dead after the police officer chased him to his grandmother\u00e2\u201e\u00a2s apartment, kicking the door open and shooting him in the chest, while he was reportedly attempting to flush a bag of marijuana down the toilet.<\/p>\n
Haste said he mistakenly believed he saw the teenager carrying a firearm.\n<\/p>\n
The fatal confrontation was also considered to be against the law as police were not in possession of a warrant to enter the house.\n<\/p>\n
Haste is currently undergoing another court case in connection with the beating and wrongful arrest of a Bronx man.\n<\/p>\n
The February killing sparked large street protests in New York, raising renewed concerns about the prospect of the New York Police Department\u00e2\u201e\u00a2s (NYPD) application of aggressive tactics.\n<\/p>\n
Experts say the shooting can be linked to the NYPD\u00e2\u201e\u00a2s aggressive street policing program called \u00cb\u0153Stop-and-Frisk.\u00e2\u201e\u00a2 Critics say the program predominately targets low-income minority neighborhoods.\n<\/p>\n
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