No Charges for the Wrongful Death of DeFarra Gaymon

Way back in August, I blogged about DeFarra Gaymon's wrongful death. He was shot by Officer Edward Esposito in Newark's Branch Brook Park during an undercover investigation of a sex ring. Officer Esposito claimed DeFarra attacked and threaten to kill him. The officer responded by shooting Defarra. 

Well, they just had a hearing and the NJ Grand jury did not charge Officer Esposito with anything.

Here's more:

“We made an effort to find out if there was anyone who saw the events in the park,” said Katherine Carter, a spokeswoman for the prosecutor’s office. “No witnesses ever came forward to say they saw all, or a portion, of the encounter.” 

Ms. Carter declined to comment on what evidence was presented to the grand jury, which decided on Friday not to indict the officer. The acting Essex County prosecutor, Carolyn A. Murray, told the Gaymon family late Monday, Ms. Carter said. 

The family is suing Officer Esposito and the sheriff’s office in State Superior Court in Essex County. Christopher W. Kinum, a lawyer for the Gaymons, said, “We don’t feel like we got a legitimate investigation out of the prosecutor’s office.” 

Charles J. Sciarra, a lawyer for the officer, said his client had testified voluntarily before the grand jury. “There was never a doubt that the use of force was an absolute last resort and justified in all aspects,” Mr. Sciarra said.

There are a lot of unanswered questions about this incident. I can't help but to think there's more going on. This story is not over.

The Wrongful Death of DeFarra Gaymon

I'm late on this so I apologize...

Weeks ago DeFarra Gaymon was shot by Officer Edward Esposito in Newark's Branch Brook Park during an undercover investigation of a sex ring.

Here's the story:

Esposito shot 48-year-old DeFarra Gaymon on July 16, at about 6 p.m. after approaching the undercover detective while masturbating and soliciting sex, authorities said.

Esposito was patrolling the park with another officer as part of a sheriff's detail to curtail public sex in the park, sheriff's officials have said. Gaymon, who was unarmed, "appeared to panic" when Esposito showed his badge, authorities have said.

Gaymon shoved the officer to the ground and threatened to kill him, according to Essex County Acting Prosecutor Robert Laurino, citing the officer's statement to investigators. Prosecutors have said that there were no witnesses to the shooting.

Gaymon, who grew up in Montclair, graduated from Montclair High School and was married with four children, had driven to New Jersey from his home in Georgia to attend his high school’s 30th reunion. He had planned the event, which was to take place later that evening.

His sister, Kelly Gaymon Armstrong, has disputed the officer's version of events. "I do not believe that story. Not one bit. That is not my brother's character," she said.

Gaymon was shot once in the stomach and died at University Hospital at 9 p.m. He was buried in South Carolina on Saturday. Several family members are expected to travel to New Jersey this week to speak to investigators.

As you can imagine, this shook up Gaymon's family as well as the LGBT community in Newark. Now the authorities have suspended the undercover patrol.

Essex County Sheriff Armando Fontoura said this on Friday:

"We’ve temporarily suspended the undercover operation there, but we're increasing uniformed patrol at Branch Brook," he said. "It's on hold for now. We're looking to tweak it and make some adjustments." Fontoura declined to specify any specific changes regarding the operation — which cracks down on public lewdness and sexual activity at Newark's Branch Brook Park and South Mountain Reservation — but said, "there will be a full review."

Gaymon’s family want the FBI to get involved and Garden State Equality are also speaking out on the matter, saying:

"targeting gay men or LGBT people specifically, or anyone perceived as such, is unconscionable — and as we strongly believe, illegal."

As the story unfolds, I 'm sure it will bring out more on DeFarra's life. I hope his family is ready for this. My heart goes out to them.