Family of Ramarley Graham calls for federal civil rights investigation

NEW YORK (WABC) -- The family of an unarmed teenager killed by police in the Bronx is calling for the federal government to push the case forward.

Ramarley Graham, 18, was shot to death inside his grandmother's home in 2012 by NYPD narcotics officers.

Graham's family is bringing thousands of petitions Wednesday to the U.S. Attorney's office in Manhattan, calling for a civil rights investigation.

In an exclusive investigation, Eyewitness News learned that the lengthy investigation by Police Internal Affairs is now causing delays in court and keeping the family from getting answers.

In February 2012, video captured officers from a special narcotics unit chasing Ramarley Graham to his home in the Bronx. Police believed the teenager had a gun. They busted open his door. Seconds later, Officer Richard Haste fatally shot an un-armed Graham in the bathroom. A manslaughter indictment against Haste was tossed out on a technicality. A second grand jury declined to indict.

The grieving parents turned to the civil courts for justice, but our investigation has learned that effort is now being stalled by the NYPD's Internal Affairs Bureau, which is holding on to case files needed for the civil trial to go forward.

"The police are playing games," mom Constance Malcolm said. "They're stalling, basically that's what they're doing, they're stalling so the case can't go forward."

Just weeks ago, city attorneys filed this motion in federal court blaming the NYPD Internal Affairs Bureau's on-going investigation into the shooting for hampering their ability to mount a defense.

City attorneys say they needed more time because they neither have access to the investigative file nor can we (they) interview any of the officers who are subjects of the (police) investigation. The judge granted the delay.