Nicholas Naquan Heyward Jr. Memorial Foundation, Inc.

#JusticeForNicholasHeywardJr


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On September 27, 1994, 13-year old Nicholas Heyward Jr was playing a game of cops and robbers with his friends at 423 Baltic Street, where he lived with his family. It was in the middle of this game that Nicholas Jr was shot and killed by housing police officer Brian George. Former Brooklyn DA Charles Hynes chose not to bring the case before a grand jury, claiming that the toy gun in Nicholas Jr’s hands looked too realistic and that George shot the boy within a split second.

Based on Officer George’s own account of what took place and the account of other eyewitnesses that were never questioned by Hynes’s office, the claims Hynes presented to justify no prosecution are false. Among the many contradictions:

• - the stairwell lighting was not dim
• - the shooting did not take place in a split second and was not accidental
• - the toy gun was obviously plastic with a bright orange tip
• - George shot Nicholas Jr after the boy told him, “We’re only playing”
• - Nicholas Jr asked the first eyewitness on the scene, “Why did he shoot me?”
• - The first cops on the scene debated over planting a real gun on Nicholas Jr

After 21 arduous years, throughout which Nicholas Jr’s father Nicholas Heyward Sr relentlessly demanded justice for the stolen life of his son and the lives of hundreds of others in New York City killed by police, Brooklyn DA Thompson’s office has told Nicholas Sr that they will investigate what former DA Charles Hynes never did. This is unprecedented, and could not have happened without persistent pressure from the people and the steadfast families of Stolen Lives united in their struggle for justice.

Demands for Justice for Nicholas Naquan Heyward, Jr:

1. A complete investigation into the murder of Nicholas Naquan Heyward Jr.

2. A full investigation into the handling of Nicholas Jr.'s case by ex-DA Charles Hynes

3. A public acknowledgement that Nicholas Jr. was playing with a visibly fake toy gun when Officer Brian George shot him