NYPD Cops Shot and Killed Bodybuilder They Asked For Help, Told Family He Was Stabbed to Death, Lawsuit Alleges
Suing for $25 million
According to a lawsuit filed in Brooklyn court, last year cops asked 51-year-old bodybuilder Rafael Lauereano to help break down the door of his girlfriend's home to stop an ex-boyfriend from attacking her and her two children. After Lauereano broke down the door, the ex-boyfriend, Francisco Carvajal allegedly charged at them with a knife. Police fired 18 rounds; nine hit Carvajal and one hit Laureano, who was between Carvajal and the police. Both men were killed.
Police dispute the narrative, saying they broke down the door and then Laureano rushed in, even saying one of the cops tried to grab the man by his arm. The police, however, lose credibility because of their response to the incident. They told family members Laureano had been stabbed to death by Carvajal. Via the New York Daily News:
"When I got to scene I asked three cops what happened to my father, no one wanted to tell me anything," his heartbroken son told The News.
He said he had to show his military identification at the hospital to learn his father was stabbed "multiple times" to death.
"I couldn't believe it. It was hard to hear," he said.
"I thought he was strong enough to survive [getting stabbed,] but Rafael said, 'No he died.' I couldn't believe it," said another son, Jonathan Sanabria, 27.
A few days later the city medical examiners determined the dad was not stabbed but was shot by the NYPD.
"The NYPD and the city has yet to provide the Laureano family with the truth of what led to [their father's] death," said George.
The family is suing for $25 million. Among other things, they say police did not follow protocol, which would be to use a battering ram from Emergency Services, not the boyfriend of the victim or doing it themselves, as they allege. An internal review has been ongoing by the NYPD since October.