Kimani Gray Brooklyn Shooting: Officers Named as Michael Bloomberg Refuses to Visit Site

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg has said he will not visit Flatbush, the area of Brooklyn where 16-year-old Kimani Gray was shot dead by police officers.

He said visiting the vigil set up where the teenager was shot in the back would "inflame things", adding that he does not want to get in the way of the police department, Capital New York reported.

Bloomberg passed his condolences on to Gray's family, but reasserted the police statement that the teenager was carrying a gun when the officers opened fire. He said there will be a full investigation.

He said: "I'm doing everything I can to keep guns off our streets, as you know, and keep young people away from guns

"This gun that was recovered that apparently the young man had was originally purchased in Florida. I think it's another example of why we've got to stop illegal gun trafficking."

The mayor also said the riots had not emerged from racial tensions in the area.

Gray was shot seven times by two plainclothes police officers last weekend, three of the bullets entering through his back.

The officers involved have since been named as Sergeant Mourad Mourad, who has been with the NYPD for eight years, and Officer Jovaniel Cordova, who has been acknowledged for his exceptional work in the field.

Gray's family refused to condone the violence that followed his death; 46 people were arrested after riots broke out when a group of mourners marched to a local police station.

Carol Gray, the teen's mother, said: "I don't condone any riots, any looting, any shooting, anything against any police officers.

"Two police officers shot down Kimani and I only want justice for two police officers to be off the street before they hurt another young kid."

Gray was killed in front of his friend's house after leaving a 16<sup>th birthday party. Ms Gray said she cannot believe her son pulled a gun out on police officers as he was frightened of them.

"Today was very hard. I had to choose the colour of the casket that I wanted. I'm still waiting for him to come home."

Gray will be buried with his elder brother, who died two years ago in a car crash.

Kenneth Montgomery, the family's lawyer, said they want to know who found the gun Gray was allegedly carrying.

A number of eyewitnesses have dismissed the police report that said Gray pointed a .38 calibre weapon, instead claiming he was unarmed.

Mourad and Cordova have been placed on administrative duty since the shooting.