Grand Jury Declines To Charge Police Officer In Flowers Shooting

WHITE PLAINS, NY — Alec McKenna, the New Rochelle police officer who shot and killed Kamal Flowers in June, will not be indicted for the shooting.

That was the decision of a grand jury, announced Wednesday by Westchester County District Attorney Anthony A. Scarpino Jr.

"The death of Kamal Flowers was tragic," he said in a news conference. "His family and friends have lost a loved one and are devastated by this loss."

Scarpino said he was "deeply saddened" by Flowers' death because his life mattered.

"Any use of deadly force is difficult to accept," he said. "We want the Flowers family and the people of New Rochelle to know this investigation took top priority for this office, and, even as we have been challenged by the coronavirus — we did everything to ensure the investigation's veracity."

Flowers was shot and killed June 5 after fleeing a traffic stop and drawing a gun, officials said.

Police had received a call about a suspicious black Dodge sedan a couple of days earlier, and officers spotted the vehicle the night of June 5. A traffic stop was initiated after the driver was seen making several traffic violations in the area of Potter Avenue and Pierce Street in New Rochelle.

Authorities said Flowers, who was in the passenger seat, ran off after the sedan was stopped.

Officers pursued him and one of them fired his stun gun. A struggle began, during which Flowers drew a handgun and pointed it at one of the officers, according to authorities.

Flower attempted to fire his weapon and one of officers — McKenna — fired his weapon six times.

Police said a 9mm Ruger handgun and 10 rounds of ammunition were found near where Flowers was lying on the ground.

Scarpino said, in the interest of transparency, his office petitioned the court to allow him to reveal information related to the presentation to the grand jury, including the charges that were presented. Under state law, grand jury proceedings are confidential and cannot be made public without a court order.

Judge David Zuckerman ordered that a statement could be issued by Scarpino along with some information.

Among the information released to the public was that McKenna testified before the grand jury and waived immunity. The grand jury heard from 35 people, including 12 New Rochelle Police Department employees, 11 civilians and four witnesses from other public agencies, such state and county police.

The grand jury was presented with a total of 223 exhibits of evidence, including the handgun and ammunition, video surveillance and audio recordings of radio and 911 calls.

The charge of intentional murder was provided to the grand jury and it instructed on the defense of justification.

After deliberation, the grand jury found no reasonable cause to vote for an indictment of the officer.

At a Wednesday afternoon news conference at City Hall, Mayor Noam Bramson said officials fully acknowledge the limitations of the grand jury's decision.

"It will not erase the tragedy of a young man losing his life," he said. "It will not relieve the anguish of the Flowers family or their friends."

Bramson said the work of healing the community goes on and the moment must be use to find a better way forward together.

City Manager Charles Strome III said the decision reaffirms his confidence in the city's police department.

"We will be reviewing the incident to ensure that the department's rules, regulations and procedures were followed," he said, now that the grand jury process was completed and determined there was no criminal action in the case.

Strome declined to comment further on the grand jury's decision because the management of the city administration and the police department falls within his purview as city manager.

Editor's Note: This article was modified from the original version to include comments from Mayor Noam Bramson and City Manager Charles Strome III.

SEE ALSO:

• New Rochelle Man With Gun Fatally Shot By Officer: Police
• New Rochelle PD Releases Video Of Fatal Police Shooting
• Police Release More Details About Flowers Shooting
• Kamal Flowers: Family Urges Cuomo to Appoint Special Prosecutor
• No Investigation By AG Of New Rochelle Police Killing

Like Hudson Valley Patches' Facebook Pages.