Saheed Vassell Remembered as Kind, Generous Neighbor at Funeral
A few dozen mourners gathered at St. Anthony Baptist Church in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, for the funeral of Saheed Vassell, the mentally ill man shot and killed by police in early April.
The service was modest: bouquets of flowers and childhood photos of Vassell surrounded his gleaming white casket. During the service, friends remembered him as a kind, generous person who looked out for his neighbors. Speakers, including City Councilmember Alicka Ampry-Samuel and a representative of Al Sharpton's National Action Network, urged the congregation to support Vassell's family while calling for legal justice. Towards the end of the funeral, his sister, Telah Vassell, broke down in tears while reading aloud from his obituary.
Afterwards, mourners gathered outside the church as the funeral procession started off for Cypress Hills Cemetery. Ionie Forrest, 48, a friend of Vassell's father, said Saheed was always a nice boy. She said the incident has made her fear for her 20-year-old son's safety if he ever has to interact with the police.
"You're black, when the police come and come to you, you just have to calm yourself down because if not, you never know what's gonna take place," Forrest said.
Police officers shot Vassell nine times after they responded to a series of 911 calls describing a man pointing a gun at people on the street. Officers fired within seconds before discovering he was holding a piece of metal piping. Vassell's parents are calling for the names and records of the responding officers to be made public.
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