***Updated Friday, July 7th at 2:45 pm***
Even though Black Westchester had several confirmation that Jarrel Garris died Thursday night, we have since learn his is alive, brain dead on life support with very little hope of survival. Our sources included several family members are still telling Black Westchester he died Thursday night around 7ish in the evening. But, medical professionals we spoke to, do not legally consider that dead even though there is no brain activity. So we update this story with what we have learned and will keep you informed as more information is available.
Black Westchester broke the story of New Rochelle Police shooting an unarmed Black male, Monday, July 3rd at approximately 4:30 pm on Lincoln Avenue in front of St. Catherine A.M.E. Zion Church. We received multiple calls and were sent numerous links to family members’ Facebook posts announcing Jerrel Garris died Thursday night.
Family and friends will hold a press conference, Friday afternoon, July 7th at 3 pm in front of St Catherine’s located at 19 Lincoln Avenue to address the matter.
According to an NRPD statement, officers approached 37-year-old Jarrel Garris in connection with an alleged theft from New Rochelle Farms on the corner of Lincoln and North Avenue.
Garris who was shot in the neck, was taken to Montefiore New Rochelle and then transported by helicopter to Westchester Medical Center (because Montefiore did not have a trauma center), where he remained in critical condition until Thursday evening when he died from his injuries.
The New Rochelle Police Department released edited footage of three body cams of the officers on the scene, New Rochelle police officers Kari Bird and Gabrielle Chavarry, along with Detective Steven Conn. All three videos stop before the shot is fired. Investigators say Conn fired one round from his department-issued gun striking Garris. No additional shots were discharged.
While the NRPD claim Garris reached for one of the officer’s guns and you can hear Det Conn yell out gun before the body cam footage ends, and there appears to have been a struggle the videos do not support officer’s claims of Garris reaching for the gun. Many New Rochelle residents who demanded the body cam footage be released have criticized the NRPD for releasing edited videos.
The incident is still under investigation by the New York State Troopers, who we are told gathering all neighboring videos available. The case will now be investigated with NYS Attorney General’s office.
Jarrel Garris is the second Black male shot and killed by New Rochelle Police following the summary execution of George Floyd.
#JusticeForJarrel
Stay tuned to Black Westchester for more on this developing story!
