Very sad news for family, friends and the community as the Bronx Teen Who Fell 60 Feet After Running From NYPD Dies From Injuries sustained from the fall. A two-day fight for his life has ended due to a #petty exchange for his death resulting from the police chase.
Hakeem Kuta, the Bronx Teen Who Fell 60 Feet After Running From NYPD Dies From Injuries was 17 years old. He died 10:48AM at the St. Barnabas hospital yesterday after trying to survive a six story plunge from a building in New York’s uptown borough. The New York Daily News and police are reporting Kuta and his friends were smoking marijuana by the lobby of their 2685 Valentine St. building in Mott Haven when NYPD arrived on the scene. It was during the scramble that Kuta ended up dangling from the edge of the building.
“Four officers arrived at the scene after a neighbor complained, and the teens scurried up the staircase to the roof…Kuta jumped over a three-foot high wall without realizing there was a gap between the two buildings — with the 14-year-old managing to grab his jacket and hold tight for as long as he could. Officer Edmundo Rivera rushed over to grab the younger boy, who was starting to lose his footing. But the 14-year-old then lost his hold on Kuta, who plunged to the pavement below…Kuta fell six stories to the alleyway between the buildings…was placed on life support after the Thursday evening fall.”
…wow (SMH). What’s extra unfortunate about the Bronx Teen Who Fell 60 Feet After Running From NYPD Dies From Injuries is his family being distraught about their boy who always stayed out of trouble. His father Munir Kuta said he “was confused” and then denied the allegations, saying his son “does not do drugs.” The immigrant family from Ghana may or may not illustrate the disconnect that can be the case between any young person and their family–but especially immigrant families with children steeped in American life. This is definitely not an ill reflection on Hakeem Kuta as a person though, whether or not the allegations are true. Understanding the stories, tension, and lasting effects between law enforcement and young black men in particular it’s not a #reach that running was an instinct.
It’s definitely in bad taste to say the least that the Bronx Teen Who Fell 60 Feet After Running From NYPD Dies From Injuries had his life cut short for that instinct. Is it more than #petty in the bigger picture of marijuana being legalized across the nation for anyone to be judged, fear for their life or even lose their life? Isn’t this a great example of why legalizing is not enough—decriminalizing needs to also happen? “It’s not so easy, he was a nice kid” his father says. The family has asked for privacy.
Positive thoughts, RIP.
