About 25 supporters gathered under drizzling skies on the steps of the War Memorial building to call for aggravated assault and weapons charges to be dropped against Hearns
TRENTON - Supporters of Radazz Hearns - the teen who in August was shot seven times by police in Trenton - on Wednesday called for charges against the youth to be dropped while outside the hall where the state Attorney General and other law enforcement convened for a summit on community policing.
Slimes Jackson, Radazz Hearns' mother, and supporters at a rally outside the War Memorial in Trenton Wednesday. About 25 supporters gathered under drizzling skies on the steps of the War Memorial building to call for aggravated assault and weapons charges to be dropped against Hearns, who was shot by a State Police officer and a Mercer County sheriff's officer investigating a report of a shooting around 10:20 p.m. Aug. 7 on Louise Lane.
"They intended to kill him, but they failed,'' Rev. Lukata Mjumbe, of the United Mercer Interfaith organization said.
Protesters, which included Slimes Jackson, Radazz's mother, also demanded the arrest and prosecution of those responsible for a leak of Hearns' juvenile arrest records to local media and for the establishment of a civilian review board to investigate police shootings.
"This is not just for Radazz,'' Jackson said, holding back tears. "This is for Trenton, for the community, for everyone.''
RELATED: Radazz Hearns will not be tried as an adult
Two State Police troopers and a sheriff's officer got out of their vehicle to question Hearns and two others the night of Aug. 7. Hearns ran, authorities said. Witnesses told authorities they saw the teen reach for his waistband before one of the troopers and the sheriff's officer opened fire, the Attorney General's office has said.
Samuel A. Anyan Jr., Hearns' attorney, has said Hearns was unarmed when he was shot.
A .22-caliber handgun was recovered nearby from under a car on Calhoun Street 12 hours after the shooting. A truck that was providing lighting at the crime scene had parked on top of it, authorities have said.
The gun was found by a passing resident when the truck moved around 10 a.m. Saturday, according to the Attorney General's office.
The Attorney General's office has not named anyone involved in the shooting.
"Something stinks about this investigation,'' said Darrell L. Armstrong, of Shiloh Baptist Church. "A gun was found 10 to 12 hours later that was run over by a police vehicle or fire truck and I still don't know if there was any fingerprints on it.''
RELATED: Trenton teen charged in police shooting that wounded him
The demonstration comes a day after reports surfaced that Hearns is planning to sue the city of Trenton, Mercer County and the state of New Jersey his injuries.
Anyan, Hearns' attorney, filed a notice of claim for damages to Mercer County, the State of New Jersey and the City of Trenton, stemming from the Aug. 7 Louise Lane shooting of the then-14-year-old. The teen is now 15 years old.
The notice is the first step in filing a civil lawsuit against a public entity. It was received by the Trenton City Clerk's office on Sept. 14, according to a copy of the notice. Similar notices were also delivered to Mercer County and the state, Anyan said.
Hearns will still face a criminal proceeding on aggravated assault and weapons charges stemming from the incident. He will be tried in juvenile court.
Keith Brown may be reached at kbrown@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @KBrownTrenton. Find The Times of Trenton on Facebook.
