The Oyamada family chose Steve Vaccaro to represent them in investigating attempts by NYPD to cover up the circumstances of the death of Ryo Oyamada. Vaccaro used the Freedom of Information law to obtain video proving that police were lying in claiming that their cruiser’s lights and sirens were on when they struck Ryo.
In the hours after Ryo Oyamada was killed by a police cruiser in Queensbridge last February, the NYPD told The New York Times that the officers in the car were responding to a distress call, and that the car had its emergency lights activated when it hit the 24-year-old student. Police told ABC and Fuji TV that the car’s siren was also on, and a Community Affairs officer said that the department “has NYCHA security video showing that RMP’s lights were flashing when the victim was struck.” But the family’s attorney has now viewed the NYCHA footage, and says that it contradicts the NYPD’s statements to the press.
“The video shows what I believe to be Ryo’s last moments alive,” attorney Steve Vaccaro says. “And it shows the police car speeding in his direction. It does not show the moment of impact, but in my opinion, the police car does not appear to have its lights on as it heads towards the intersection of 40th Avenue and 10th Street.”
Vaccaro obtained the footage from NYCHA through a Freedom of Information Law request.
“In all candor, the family had the right to seek this video from NYCHA the day after Ryo was killed, and I’m concerned with the possibility that the failure to seek the video earlier resulted in the loss of relevant video evidence,” Vaccaro says, adding that the clips he obtained were edited.
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