Parents of teen shot by cops 14 times push for probe
The parents of an 18-year-old man shot 14 times by NYPD cops after attempting to steal beer implored Acting Brooklyn DA Eric Gonzalez on Monday to ramp up the investigation into their son’s February shooting.
“It’s been almost two months since our son was shot 14 times on a residential block,” grieving father Antonio Taplanto said of teen Sergio Reyes, who was killed after attempting to hold up a Bushwick bodega with a pellet gun for two packs of Corona. “We need more information on how those bullets came to tear him apart.”
Taplanto, who stood beside his silently crying wife, Patricia Reyes, said their son was set to graduate this spring and had been applying to college in the hopes of becoming a social worker.
“Our family wants a full investigation, the teary-eyed father said in Spanish through activist Jesus Gonzalez, of the non-profit Churches United for Fair Housing. “We are concerned the case has not been investigated thus far.”
Reyes’ parents spoke with Gonzalez and other higher-ups for over an hour Monday before speaking to press.
Family lawyer Roger Asmar said he was unable to comment on whether a grand jury had been convened, only noting that an investigation into the case was ongoing.
A spokeswoman with the Brooklyn DA’s Office declined to comment.
Reyes was shot Feb. 19 after leaving the store, when cops ran after him and ordered him to stop, officials said. Instead, the teen pulled out a pellet gun and allegedly pointed it at the officers, prompting them to open fire.
He died later at Woodhull Hospital.