Senator Ruth Hassell-Thompson Statement
(Long Island, NY) I am calling upon Governor Cuomo and our Senators in Washington to increase police support to cities like Mount Vernon, Yonkers, Rochester, Albany and Syracuse, to help in the fight to eliminate gang and gun violence in our streets. It is clear that despite the committed efforts of the local police, they do not have the resources and manpower to effectively control the possession and use of illegal firearms.
This support could consist of the immediate and sustained deployment of the NY State Police to supplement the hard working men and women of local police departments like Mount Vernon; whose residents are currently experiencing a less than normal quality of life.
Inner city communities are drowning in taxes and cannot afford the financial commitment to stamp out gang and gun violence. I have no wish to create a “police state” however, the temporary deployment of state troopers from low crime areas to high crime areas could be managed without raising local taxes. I will be calling for a review of buy and bust protocols to ascertain whether it is possible to provide increased protections to innocent bystanders and children of communities during these effective, but dangerous “buys”. The work of our undercover police is one of the most dangerous jobs in the nation. Blame for the shooting of Mr. Felix Kumi lies squarely on the backs of the criminals selling illegal firearms within walking distance from my home in Mount Vernon
Following my telephone conversation with Mayor DeBlasio, and his law enforcement officials, I will be requesting of him a copy of the NYPD investigation relating to this case and his pledge that all police protocols relating to undercover operations be adhered when it includes the jurisdiction of the City of Mount Vernon. This is vital to maximize protection for innocent people and children.
While I commend the Mount Vernon and New York City police for making arrests in this and other cases, the greater aim of my comments are to prevent shootings. There is a crisis in Mount Vernon as in most urban cities due to the proliferation of guns and gun related violence.
As of this writing, I am requesting that the Attorney General assess whether this case falls within Executive Order 147. The protection of civil rights is not inconsistent with support for responsible police work. Technically, it is my opinion that there is jurisdiction for at least an assessment as to whether this type of fact pattern warrants the intervention of our newly created independent special prosecutor.
Several recent shootings in Mount Vernon include but are not limited to:
- Jan. 26, 2015 — Westchester County District Attorney Janet DiFiore announced on this day that the individuals who formed the core of Mount Vernon’s most violent street gang, GMG, pled guilty to the following:
Mark Ogilvie aka “Markie” of 13th Avenue, Mount Vernon, New York pled guilty to: two counts of Manslaughter in the First Degree, class “B” felonies, one count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a class “C” Felony; Tyron McCallum aka “Yayo of Mount Vernon, New York pled guilty to: one count of Manslaughter in the First Degree, a class “B” Felony, one count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a class “C” Felony. Travis Clarke aka “Trav” of S. 13th Avenue, Mount Vernon, New York pled guilty to: one count of Attempted Murder in the Second Degree, a class “B” Felony, Jason White aka “Dutch” of the Bronx, New York pled guilty on Jan. 21, 2015 to: one count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a class “C” Felony,
- On or about March 26, 2015, Mount Vernon police arrested three men in connection with a shooting on North Ninth and Sidney Avenue in Mount Vernon. Police Chief John Roland says he witnessed the shooting, followed the car and then chased one of the suspects on foot. “The chief was driving in the area of North Ninth Avenue when he saw the suspect, Shane Jumbo, fire shots and get into getaway car. The chief gave pursuit until the suspect fled on foot on Eighth Avenue,” said Deputy Chief James Dumser. Roland was able to chase after and catch Jumbo. Police say they also recovered a 9mm handgun that Jumbo tried to get rid of.
- On April 2, 2015, the news reported that a man was shot and killed near a parking lot in Mount Vernon. Officials say the victim was shot near a parking lot behind an apartment building at 531 East Lincoln Avenue in Mount Vernon at about 3:30 p.m. Mayor Ernest D. Davis told reporters the motive may have involved a fight over a woman.
- On or about May 14, 2015, three city men were injured in a late night shooting. Shots rang out in Mount Vernon around 11 p.m. in front of 151 South Fourth Avenue. The victims fled the area after being shot and were located at 7 E.3rd Street by officers.
- Police arrested and charged Juan Picart, 25, in connection with a June 1, 2015 shooting at a 3rd Street grocery store.
- On June 25, 2015, two men, Kevin Shaw and Allashun Clay, were shot before the BMW they were traveling in flipped on a residential street near the Hutchinson River Parkway entrance in Mount Vernon.
- Jeremy Mott, 25, was arrested and charged with a July 3. 2015 shooting in which he hit both his target and a bystander. He was also charged with a November 2014 shooting.
- On or about July 3, 2015, in broad daylight, a man shot by a chasing gunman sought sanctuary in an office on 4th Avenue – major shopping area in the City of Mount Vernon.
- On or about July 9, 2015, police arrested Tyrell Crenshaw, 22, for possessing a handgun loaded with four rounds.
- August 28, 2015, an innocent bystander accidentally shot by a plainclothes officer died earlySaturday, hours after being wounded when the officer opened fire on an armed suspect during an undercover gun buy that went bad, according to the New York City police. Felix Kumi, 61, of Mount Vernon died shortly before 1 AM. He was shot Friday afternoon after a man pulled a gun on an undercover NYPD officer during a probe into the sale of illegal firearms, officials said. The 37-year-old gunman was struck three times in the torso while another bullet tragically struck Mr. Kumi.
