Teen Killed by New York Officer

A police officer on routine patrol killed a man at a public housing project early Saturday, and the police commissioner said later that the shooting was not justified.

The 35-year-old Housing Authority officer, who was not identified, had never before fired a shot on duty in his 11-year career, Commissioner Raymond Kelly said.

The officer and his partner were patrolling the housing project when they encountered Timothy Stansbury Jr., 19, who was going up a stairway to the roof to cross to another building shortly before 1 a.m., Kelly said.

The officer was standing 3 feet to 4 feet away when he fired one round into Stansbury’s chest, the commissioner said.

“At this point, based on the facts that we have gathered, there appears to be no justification for this shooting,” Kelly said. “This is a tragic incident that compels us to take an in-depth look at our tactics and training, both for new and veteran officers.”

The officer was placed on restricted duty and his gun and badge were taken away, authorities said. The second officer was placed on desk duty.

Stansbury’s family said he had no criminal record and was well liked.

“They’re killing us like dogs out here, pure dogs!” said Stansbury’s mother, Phyllis Clayburne, a police department crossing guard. “It’s not right, and it needs to stop!”

Police said the teenager had been at a party and crossed to another building to visit someone else. He was coming through a doorway when the officer looked in and shot him, police said. Stansbury ran down five flights of stairs and collapsed in the lobby, Kelly said.

Stansbury was taken to Woodhull Hospital, where he died.

The Thomas Jefferson High School senior worked at a McDonald’s, said his cousin, Diesha Clayburne. “He was a good boy -- he worked part time, went to school, never got into trouble,” she said. “There was no reason for him to be shot.”