Rev. Al Sharpton To Attend New Haven Teen's Memorial

NEW HAVEN, CT — Rev. Al Sharpton will attend a memorial service this weekend for a New Haven teen who was killed by a state trooper, according to The New Haven Register. The noted civil rights activist will attend the memorial at the First Calvary Baptist Church at 1 p.m. Sunday.

Nineteen-year-old Mubarak Soulemane was shot and killed by Trooper Brian North in West Haven following a chase from Norwalk Jan. 15. Soulemane had displayed a knife during the carjacking and again to troopers before he was shot, according to authorities.

A video released by police shows the troopers ordering Soulemane to drop the knife, and viewers can see and hear Trooper North — standing outside of the vehicle — fire his service weapon at Soulemane through the driver side window a half-dozen times.

Soulemane's family and community leaders are questioning the shooting in part because they do not believe Soulemane was given an adequate chance to exit the vehicle before he was shot.

First Calvary Rev. Boise Kimber told The Register that Sharpton is attending as he has "stood up against police brutality for years all across this nation." Soulemane's family is calling for Trooper North to be fired.

Soulemane is one of three people who have been killed by police in Connecticut so far this year.

A statement from police said that Soulemane was in a white Hyundai driving recklessly on I-95 northbound the afternoon of Jan. 15. Troopers attempted to stop the vehicle, following it from Exit 36 to Exit 43, then onto Campbell Avenue in West Haven.

"On Campbell Avenue, the Hyundai struck a civilian's vehicle and was successfully boxed in by State Police," the statement reads. "State Police and West Haven Police attempted to get the driver out of the vehicle and initially deployed less-lethal means (Taser), which was ineffective. When the driver displayed a weapon (later determined to be a knife), a Trooper on scene discharged his assigned duty pistol, striking the driver."

A GoFundMe campaign has been started for the family. The page reads: "Mubi was a friend to us all anybody around him had a good time he always brought fun and joy to the table. The money from this fundraiser will go towards His funeral, memorial services, and family. In remembrance of our friend Mubi."