Family of 16-year-old beaten by officers in the Bronx say he was protesting, not looting

The family of a Bronx teen is demanding answers from the NYPD after they say 16-year-old Jahmel Leach was beaten by police during a night of protest and looting in the Bronx.

News 12 Staff

Jun 11, 2020, 3:42 PM

Updated 1,434 days ago

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The family of a Bronx teen is demanding answers from the NYPD after they say 16-year-old Jahmel Leach was beaten by police during a night of protest and looting in the Bronx.
News 12 is told Leach’s family is planning on suing the NYPD for civil violation after they say the teen was beaten and police used a stun gun on him on June 1.
According to police, the 16-year-old had a stun gun used on him after allegedly being seen trying to set something on fire in the middle of the street. They claim he was seen running in and out of stores, but Leach’s family says he was not participating.
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They say he wasn’t looting, but instead was attending a protest for George Floyd. Leach’s cousin says officers used the stun gun on the teen three times in the head, leg, and shoulder. The family also says Leach was taken into custody without alerting the family.
News 12 is told Leach was eventually taken to St. Barnabas Hospital where his cousin says officers discovered he was a minor.
The NYPD says they are investigating, but the family says they want a special investigation to be done.
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