- 1973 shooting in South Jamaica, Queens
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Clifford Glover was a 10-year-old black boy who was shot by Thomas Shea, a white on-duty policeman. His death, and the policeman's later acquittal, led to riots in the South Jamaica section of Queens, New York.[1]
Contents
Shooting
At 5 am on April 28, 1973, 10-year-old Clifford Glover was shot when he and his stepfather were stopped by two undercover officers, Thomas Shea, and his partner Walter Scott. The two officers believed the boy and his stepfather were guilty of robbery.[1][2] Glover and his stepfather were afraid of the two officers and ran from them, believing they themselves were about to be robbed.[1]
Shea testified that he drew fire on the boy who appeared to have a weapon. Glover was hit by at least two bullets.[2] When Glover was hit, the officers claimed his father took the alleged weapon from him, which was never recovered.[1] According to Scott the boy told him "Fuck you, you're not taking me".[3]
Rioting
Immediately following the shooting, there were several days of riots in the South Jamaica neighborhood. At least 24 people, including 14 policemen were injured and 25 protestors arrested.[4] There were also smaller demonstrations accusing Shea of racism outside the courthouse during the trial.[1]
The day after Shea was acquitted, hundreds of people began a riot. Several cars were turned over by the angry crowd. Windows were broken and cash registers stolen. One protestor was arrested.[5] Two police officers were injured by the rioters.[6]
Trial
Thomas Shea was put on trial for murder. He was the first New York City police officer ever to be tried for murder while on duty.[6][7] Shea was declared not guilty on June 12, 1974.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d e f "New York Policeman Acquitted". The Day. June 13, 1974. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=YO0gAAAAIBAJ&sjid=EHIFAAAAIBAJ&pg=973,2710496&dq=clifford+glover&hl=en. Retrieved September 15, 2010.
- ^ a b "Policeman Charged with Negro Boy's Murder". New Straits Times. April 30, 1973. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Pd0qAAAAIBAJ&sjid=HXwFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3362,7336401&dq=clifford+glover&hl=en. Retrieved September 15, 2010.
- ^ Hauser, Thomas (1980). The Trial of Patrolman Thomas Shea. Viking Press. p. 210. ISBN 0670730130. http://books.google.com/books?id=YSKxAAAAIAAJ&q=The+trial+of+Patrolman+Thomas+Shea&dq=The+trial+of+Patrolman+Thomas+Shea&hl=en&ei=RbIgTsOELtTAgQe_tfnjBQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCkQ6AEwAA. Retrieved September 15, 2010.
- ^ "Clifford Glover: Instant Martyrdom". The Montreal Gazette. May 7, 1973. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=VZouAAAAIBAJ&sjid=oKEFAAAAIBAJ&dq=clifford-glover%20thomas-shea&pg=930%2C2049633. Retrieved September 15, 2010.
- ^ "Queens Area Quiet After Protest Incidents". Lewiston Evening Journal. June 13, 1974. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=aaUgAAAAIBAJ&sjid=hmgFAAAAIBAJ&dq=clifford-glover%20thomas-shea&pg=1435%2C2037650. Retrieved September 15, 2010.
- ^ a b "Hundreds Riot After Officer is Acquitted". Toledo Blade. June 14, 1974. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=zg0xAAAAIBAJ&sjid=JAIEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7411,4590035&dq=clifford+glover&hl=en. Retrieved September 15, 2010.
- ^ "Cop Arraigned in Boy's Slaying". The Pittsburgh Press. June 13, 1973. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=6VkqAAAAIBAJ&sjid=51QEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7443,6380241&dq=clifford+glover&hl=en. Retrieved September 15, 2010.
Categories:- African American riots in the United States
- Queens, New York City
- Crime in New York City
- 1973 in New York
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