Dayshen McKenzie died while running to preserve his life. The 16 year old from Staten Island was running from a predominantly white crew that waved a gun and shouted racial epithets when he collapsed from an asthma attack.
Diane Fatigati, an ex-NYPD officer and 9/11 responder, who rushed to the aid of the McKenzie believes it’s murder. . “They were chasing him — that’s a crime. You’re hunting them because they’re black … You’re calling them a n—-r.”
Fatigati recalls one mob member shouting “I got a gun!” “I’m gonna shoot you, n—-r!” declared another. The Good Samaritan said the group chasing McKenzie was predominantly white with one Hispanic male. The cars driven had Pennsylvania plates. Since the incident, no arrests have been made.
Tisha Richardson, the mother of McKenzie, was horrified learning of her 16 year old son’s final moments. “The sadness turns to anger. I want justice for him. Somebody should be held accountable” declared Richardson.
A source close to NYPD indicate that the boys did not indicate any racial bias during the initial probe, however Fatigati stated that she mentioned it to the investigators. “Oh, yeah. To me, it’s a hate crime.” The investigators did not indicate any racial bias in their official account.
After the New York Daily News inquired about the case, Hate Crime investigators were to interview the witnesses again.
McKenzie, a beloved child and joy of his mother’s eyes, and his six friends were chased through backyards and homes before the fatal collapse.
19 year old Harry Smith said that one of his friends and another member of the mob had dispute over a girl they dated two years ago. “They guy said, ‘You got a problem?’ And my (friend) said, ‘You got a problem?’ and it went on. They left, and they came back three cars deep. The guy in the first car had a gun.” Unfortunately the events there after is what caused the untimely passing of McKenzie who is survived by his mother and six siblings.
