DeFarra Gaymon, a father of four and the CEO of Credit Union of Atlanta drove to New Jersey from Atlanta to attend his 30th Montclair High School reunion, which he helped to spearhead. Gaymon never made it to his planned affair, though, because he was shot to death last Friday by a Newark police officer. On Tuesday, the Essex County prosecutor released the facts of what allegedly occurred the night Gaymon was killed.
The officer who pulled the trigger and whose name has not been released told investigators that he and his partner had been doing undercover work as the result of complaints about public sexual acts in Newark's Branch Brook Park. The park is a notorious sexual pickup spot for men looking to have sexual encounters with other men. There are also male prostitutes who stroll the park looking for conquests. Officers have made well over 200 arrests in the park over an 18-month period.
The eight-year veteran, who had been involved in an arrest right before Gaymon was shot, lost his handcuffs while trying to pursue the perpetrator. When the officer went back to retrace his steps in an effort to find his cuffs, he was approached by Gaymon. According to the prosecutor, the officer claims that the 48-year-old man propositioned him for sex all while engaged in a masturbatory act.
When the officer identified himself by flashing his badge, Gaymon allegedly assualted him, panicked and then fled. The officer gave chase. The men found themselves at the edge of a pond, where the officer tried to kick his legs out from under him, but this move failed.
The prosecutor went on to state that Gaymon got up "turned toward the officer, reached in to his pocket and attempted to disarm him. At that time, the officer, fearing for his life, fired his weapon."
There were no witnesses to the shooting.
Gaymon was shot once in the abdomen and died several hours later at University Hospital in Newark.
Kelly Gaymon Armstrong, the victim's sister, doubts the officer's version of what actually happened:
"I do not believe that story. Not one bit. That is not my brother's character. That is a made-up story ... an absolute lie. The truth will come out."
She is calling for an independent law enforcement agency to further investigate the case.
So far no charges have been filed against the officer in question. He was treated for trauma at a hospital and will be able to resume his duties after he receives a green light from his doctor.
14-July-10 - An Iowa Tea Party group recently caused an uproar by creating a billboard that compares President Barack Obama to Adolf Hitler and Vladimir Lenin.
14-July-10 - An Iowa Tea Party group recently caused an uproar by creating a billboard that compares President Barack Obama to Adolf Hitler and Vladimir Lenin.
14-July-10 - Cad-about-town Tiki Barber has been hit with a $1-million lawsuit by a fitness company that has rendered him "worthless overnight" as its spokesperson, because he cheated on his pregnant wife.
14-July-10 - Fox News reporter Megyn Kelly (pictured) and New York Post columnist Kirsten Powers went at it recently regarding charges from a former Justice Department lawyer who claims that civil rights cases in which whites are the victims are ignored.
13-July-10 - A criminal investigation should be opened for two officers who Tasered and pepper-sprayed a 57-year-old Georgia woman who called police to report a prowler.
13-July-10 - Aimee L. Sword, 36, pled guilty to having sex with the biological son she gave up for adoption, whom she later tracked down on the Internet via Facebook.
13-July-10 - The Gay-Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) has gone hard against ABC and "The View" about recent comments made by host Sherri Shepherd and guest host D.L. Hughley.
08-July-10 - In many ways, Gary Coleman, Maia Campbell and Michael Jackson represent a major tragedy of the black community: undiagnosed and untreated mental health issues, especially clinical depression, in all its variations. It would be a waste to not learn lessons from these stars, so that we can help so many others.
08-July-10 - Johannes Mehserle, a former Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) officer (pictured), has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the case of Oscar Grant, whom he shot and killed on a train station platform in Oakland, Calif., on New Year's Day 2009.
07-July-10 - According to Peace FM Online, "The Juice," O.J. Simpson, is tying the knot behind bars. The once-upon-a-time gridiron great is all set to marry a lady love, whom he has never even met face to face.
02-July-10 - The real hypocrites oath will forever be linked to University of Georgia Athletic Director Damon Evans, who got busted for drunk driving after cutting an anti-drunk-driving public service announcement for the university
In reference to it being alot worse in my comment, i meant him catching AIDS, giving it to his wife and them both dying eventually in the long ride. That is worse than dying from a bullet because you've given a disease to someone else because of your double life.
brotha was a freak and sweet...look at him AND he from the gay capital of the world...the ATL. AND he was in that park tryin to get some sausage. If he were smart, he wld have stayed in his hotel room, used the internet and hooked upo. HE LOVE BROTHAS. Chile, please.
What I find interesting is how the cops in New York kill black men and nothing is done about it and the cops can always justify while they killed them. I remember then killing a young man who was at his bachelor party who had no gun. The cops in New York are out of control.
To all who are questioning why an unarmed man would tackle a cop, ever hear of panicking? People hiding under the sin of darkness will behave illogically when the light is on. Remember the two teens in Ca. who assaulted the cop when he approached them about jaywalking? What about all the cops who have lost their lives (and continue to lose their lives) when they make "routine" traffic stops or happen upon a crime in the making? This so-called CEO was committing a criminal act - male prostitution - in a public setting. Why try and turn it into a race incident? Suppose the undercover cop was a black man too? What will you say then? The black cop was "homophobic?"
Hey crabby tell that bs too someone else. With all the serious crime in the world and the best you can talk about is some bull crap law as jaywalking. Its amazing when cops get into a frey they ask for the whole precint too show up for backup, when a young lady get grabbed, oh her girlfriend can't help her. Hate to be part of your family. Everyone knows that most cops are dirty, including you!!!
What get's me is how do you assume your duties after you've taken a life unless you did it intentionally. As yourself that question. And by the way I'm a nurse and I can't for the life of me seeing any normal human being going right back to work after killing another human being! This story needs to be checked out whether he was gay or not the story is not correct, and dead men don't tell tells but do that? Yes it's call reinactment. I'm with the sister.
Do you not think that American soldiers are taking lives in Afghanistan and Iraq just as they're own lives are being taken? What is this nonsense on here? The cop was doing his job...he was working undercover to clean up the filth so that decent people could enjoy what is supposed to be a public facility. If this pervert had been white I doubt if all this 'sympathy' but since he's black, he's supposed to be right. A pervert is a pervert. This guy was where he should not have been, was identified as a homo by an undercover cop, panicked, assaulted the cop, and then tried to get away. While there are bad cops, every cop is not bad and every citizen is not right. Again, what if the undercover cop is black? What will the excuse be then?
What about cops who murder? you seem to think they don't. they do and have. It's been proven before. There is a cover up and a thin blue line to this murder.
The headline is scandalous to get our attention...what was the point of leading off with "Married CEO"?. The intent was to make us think the man was cheating on his wife not the police shooting an unarmed man. Well done since most are focusing on the sex part instead of the actual shooting. The story sounds suspicious and we need to focus on that issue not whether the man was bi or gay!
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By: Jason C on 7/22/2010 10:58AM
In reference to it being alot worse in my comment, i meant him catching AIDS, giving it to his wife and them both dying eventually in the long ride. That is worse than dying from a bullet because you've given a disease to someone else because of your double life.
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By: derel on 7/22/2010 11:01AM
brotha was a freak and sweet...look at him AND he from the gay capital of the world...the ATL. AND he was in that park tryin to get some sausage. If he were smart, he wld have stayed in his hotel room, used the internet and hooked upo. HE LOVE BROTHAS. Chile, please.
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By: Joyce on 7/22/2010 11:43AM
What I find interesting is how the cops in New York kill black men and nothing is done about it and the cops can always justify while they killed them. I remember then killing a young man who was at his bachelor party who had no gun. The cops in New York are out of control.
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By: crabcake on 7/22/2010 11:32AM
To all who are questioning why an unarmed man would tackle a cop, ever hear of panicking? People hiding under the sin of darkness will behave illogically when the light is on. Remember the two teens in Ca. who assaulted the cop when he approached them about jaywalking? What about all the cops who have lost their lives (and continue to lose their lives) when they make "routine" traffic stops or happen upon a crime in the making? This so-called CEO was committing a criminal act - male prostitution - in a public setting. Why try and turn it into a race incident? Suppose the undercover cop was a black man too? What will you say then? The black cop was "homophobic?"
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By: George on 7/23/2010 1:24AM
Hey crabby tell that bs too someone else. With all the serious crime in the world and the best you can talk about is some bull crap law as jaywalking. Its amazing when cops get into a frey they ask for the whole precint too show up for backup, when a young lady get grabbed, oh her girlfriend can't help her. Hate to be part of your family. Everyone knows that most cops are dirty, including you!!!
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By: mancha de platano on 7/22/2010 11:53AM
murder by cop......peroid
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By: victoria on 7/22/2010 11:43AM
What get's me is how do you assume your duties after you've taken a life unless you did it intentionally. As yourself that question. And by the way I'm a nurse and I can't for the life of me seeing any normal human being going right back to work after killing another human being! This story needs to be checked out whether he was gay or not the story is not correct, and dead men don't tell tells but do that? Yes it's call reinactment. I'm with the sister.
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By: crabcake on 7/23/2010 10:29AM
Do you not think that American soldiers are taking lives in Afghanistan and Iraq just as they're own lives are being taken? What is this nonsense on here? The cop was doing his job...he was working undercover to clean up the filth so that decent people could enjoy what is supposed to be a public facility. If this pervert had been white I doubt if all this 'sympathy' but since he's black, he's supposed to be right. A pervert is a pervert. This guy was where he should not have been, was identified as a homo by an undercover cop, panicked, assaulted the cop, and then tried to get away. While there are bad cops, every cop is not bad and every citizen is not right. Again, what if the undercover cop is black? What will the excuse be then?
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By: mancha de platano on 7/22/2010 11:56AM
What about cops who murder? you seem to think they don't. they do and have. It's been proven before. There is a cover up and a thin blue line to this murder.
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By: Mystique on 7/22/2010 12:24PM
The headline is scandalous to get our attention...what was the point of leading off with "Married CEO"?. The intent was to make us think the man was cheating on his wife not the police shooting an unarmed man. Well done since most are focusing on the sex part instead of the actual shooting. The story sounds suspicious and we need to focus on that issue not whether the man was bi or gay!
Some investigating is necessary in this case.
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