User:CliffC/Eleanor
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Eleanor Bumpurs (August 22, 1918 - October 29, 1984) was an African-American grandmother who was shot dead by police trying to evict her from her home on October 29, 1984. The NYPD was evicting her because she owed $96.85 in rent. Eleanor had trouble moving, and had arthritis and diabetes. The police were also informed before entering her apartment that she was senile, and not fully aware of what was going on.
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[edit] October 29, 1984
Prior to the eviction, Eleanor had related to her daughter Mary that someone in the building was harassing her. Mary advised her to keep the door locked. On the morning of October 29th, the police were unable to get Eleanor to come to her apartment door when they knocked. They drilled out the lock, and through the hole it created they could see the 66-year old in her living room, holding a kitchen knife. The officers then proceeded to kick down her door in order to evict her. From that point, officers would later testify that the nearly 300-pound Bumpurs attacked them swinging wildly with a butcher knife. Officer Stephen Sullivan fired two shots from his 12-gauge single-barreled shotgun;the first hit Bumpurs' hand, the second fatally struck her in the chest.
[edit] Public and PBA React
The case brought a lot of notice, as the victim was black, a senior citizen and mentally ill. The fact that two blasts had been fired also raised many questions. To meet the criticism of the public, the NYPD union, the PBA put out radio commercials that sought to portray Bumpurs as a severe threat to the officers in her apartment: This 300-pound woman suddenly charged one of the officers with a 12-inch butcher knife, striking his shield with such force that it bent the tip of the steel blade. It was as she was striking again that the shots were fired. It happened so quickly they had no chance to subdue her - no chance.[1] The Bumpurs' case played out in the public at the same time as the Bernhard Goetz incident and helped to heighten racial tensions in New York City.
[edit] Grand Jury Indictment
A grand jury was convened to investigate the actions of Officer Sullivan. On January 30, 1985 the grand jury indicted Sullivan on charges of second-degree manslaughter, to which Sullivan plead not guilty. However, on April 12, 1985 Judge Vincent A. Vitale of State Supreme Court ruled that Mr. Sullivan had acted in conformity with the guidelines and procedures outlined by the Police Department and dismissed the indictment against Sullivan.[2]
[edit] Indictment Reinstated
The Sullivan case took another turn when on November 25, 1986 the State Supreme Court reinstated the indictment of Sullivan on appeal by a 6-1 vote (the lone dissenter was Sol Wachtler).
[edit] Trial of Officer Sullivan
Officer Sullivan waived his right to trial by jury in hopes of winning over a less emotional judge than a Bronx jury. The trial opened on January 12, 1987, over two years after the death of Ms. Bumpurs. The trial hinged on whether Sullivan had used excessive force, especially in firing twice at Bumpurs. His fellow officers testified that Bumpurs was still not immobilized after the first blast hit her hand, and therefore still posed a threat to the police. In addition, two doctors testified that Bumpurs could have still made stabbing motions even after part of her hand had literally been blown off by the first shotgun blast.
[edit] Verdict
On February 26, 1987 Judge Fred W. Eggert acquitted Officer Sullivan on the charges of manslaughter.[3] On August 4, 1987 federal prosecutors declined to investigate the Bumpurs case. The U.S. Attorney in Manhattan stated that he had found "nothing indicating that the case was not tried fully, fairly and competently." And that there was no "proof of a specific intent to inflict excessive and unjustified force." The District Attorney's name was Rudy Giuliani.[4]
[edit] Civil Settlement
In March 1990, the City of New York agreed to pay $200,000 to the estate of Ms. Bumpurs, marking a close to the legal proceedings stemming from the Bumpurs shooting.
[edit] Legacy of Bumpurs Case
The Bumpurs case was one of several racially charged cases in New York during the 1980s that exacerbated racial tensions. Others were the killing of Willie Turks in 1982, the subway shooting of three youths by Bernard Goetz in 1984, the death of Michael Griffith in 1986, the shooting of six NYPD officers by Larry Davis (criminal) also in 1986, and the killing of Yusuf Hawkins in 1989.
[edit] References
- ^ Buder, Leonard.Officers' Union Runs Ads Backing Action Of Police in Bumpurs Case." New York Times 13 December 1984, p. B18.
- ^ Scardino, Albert and Finder, Alan. "Judge Dismisses Indictment in Bumpurs Case." New York Times 14 April 1985, p.6.
- ^ Prial, Frank J. "Judge Acquits Sullivan In Shotgun Slaying of Bumpurs." New York Times 27 February 1987, p. B1.
- ^ "U.S. Inquiry Ruled Out In Death of Bumpurs." New York Times 5 August 1987, p. B3.
