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{{Short description|1973 police shooting of a child in New York City}}
⚫ Clifford Glover was a 10 year old black boy who was shot by Thomas Shea, a white on-duty policeman. His death, and the policeman's later acquittal led to riots in the ] section of ], ].<ref name=TheDay> {{cite news |title=New York Policeman Acquitted |author= |newspaper=The Day |date=June 13, 1974 |url=http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=YO0gAAAAIBAJ&sjid=EHIFAAAAIBAJ&pg=973,2710496&dq=clifford+glover&hl=en |accessdate=September 15, 2010}}</ref>
{{Infobox News event
| image =
| caption =
| image_size =
| date = April 28, 1973
| time = 5&nbsp;a.m.
| place = ], ], United States
| notes =
}}

⚫ '''Clifford Glover''' was a 10-year-old ] boy who was fatally shot by Thomas Shea, an on-duty, undercover policeman, on April 28, 1973. Glover's death, and Shea's later acquittal for a murder charge, led to riots in the ] section of ], ].<ref name=TheDay>{{cite news |title=New York Policeman Acquitted |newspaper=The Day |date=June 13, 1974 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=YO0gAAAAIBAJ&pg=973,2710496&dq=clifford+glover&hl=en |accessdate=September 15, 2010}}</ref>

==Shooting== ==Shooting==
At 5&nbsp;a.m. on April 28, 1973, 10-year-old Clifford Glover was shot when he decided to join his stepfather for some
At 5 am on April 28, 1973, 10 year old Clifford Glover was walking with his stepfather when they were stopped by a plainclothes policeman, Thomas Shea, and his partner Walter Scott because, according to Shea, they matched the description of a pair of men wanted for a taxi robbery.<ref name=TheDay /><ref name=NewStraitsTimes> {{cite news |title=Policeman Charged with Negro Boy's Murder |author= |newspaper=New Straits Times|date=April 30, 1973 |url=http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Pd0qAAAAIBAJ&sjid=HXwFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3362,7336401&dq=clifford+glover&hl=en |accessdate=September 15, 2010}}</ref> Glover and his stepfather fled because, according to Glover's stepfather, they thought they were going to be robbed.<ref name=TheDay /> Shea fired three times at the pair when the boy appeared to draw a gun. The boy was hit with at least two bullets.<ref name=NewStraitsTimes /> As the boy fell, he supposedly passed the gun to his stepfather.<ref name=TheDay /> The gun was never found.<ref name=TheDay />The radio in the patrol car recorded Shea as saying "''Die you little fuck''" after he reported the shooting. The recording was later replayed at the trial.<ref>{{cite book |title=The Trial of Patrolman Thomas Shea |last=Hauser |first=Thomas |year=1980 |publisher=Viking Press |isbn=0670730130 |page=210 |url=http://books.google.com/books?ei=IYiRTP7GBYrCsAP9xs2bBw&ct=result&id=YSKxAAAAIAAJ&dq=clifford-glover+thomas-shea&q=little+fuck#search_anchor |accessdate=September 15, 2010}}</ref> Glover died a shortly afterwards in the hospital. Glover was, at least at the time, the youngest person ever to be killed by a New York City policeman.<ref name=NewStraitsTimes />
work on a weekend and his stepfather was stopped by two ], Thomas Shea, and his partner Walter Scott. The two officers believed the boy and his stepfather had just committed a robbery.<ref name=TheDay /><ref name=NewStraitsTimes>{{cite news |title=Policeman Charged with Negro Boy's Murder |newspaper=]|date=April 30, 1973 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Pd0qAAAAIBAJ&pg=3362,7336401&dq=clifford+glover&hl=en |accessdate=September 15, 2010}}</ref> Glover and his stepfather were afraid of the two officers and ran from them, believing they themselves were about to be harmed.<ref name=TheDay />

Shea testified that he drew fire on the boy who appeared to have a weapon. Glover was hit by at least two bullets.<ref name=NewStraitsTimes /> When Glover was hit, the officers claimed his father took the alleged weapon from him, which was never recovered.<ref name=TheDay /> According to Scott the boy told him "Fuck you, you're not taking me".<ref>{{cite book |title=The Trial of Patrolman Thomas Shea |last=Hauser |first=Thomas | author-link =Thomas Hauser|year=1980 |publisher=Viking Press |isbn=0-670-73013-0 |page=210 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YSKxAAAAIAAJ&q=The+trial+of+Patrolman+Thomas+Shea |accessdate=September 15, 2010}}</ref> <!-- Glover died shortly afterwards in hospital. Glover was at the time the youngest person ever to be killed by a New York City policeman.<ref name=NewStraitsTimes /> -->

==Rioting== ==Rioting==
Immediately following the shooting, there were several days of riots in the ] neighborhood. At least 24 people, including 14 policemen were injured and 25 protestors arrested.<ref>{{cite news |title=Clifford Glover: Instant Martyrdom|author= |newspaper=The Montreal Gazette|date=May 7, 1973 |url=http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=VZouAAAAIBAJ&sjid=oKEFAAAAIBAJ&dq=clifford-glover%20thomas-shea&pg=930%2C2049633 |accessdate=September 15, 2010}}</ref> There were also smaller demonstrations accusing Shea of racism outside the courthouse during the trial.<ref name=TheDay /> The day after Shea was acquitted, hundereds of people began a riot. Several cars were turned over by the angry crowd. Windows were broken and cash registers stolen. One protestor was arrested.<ref>{{cite news |title=Queens Area Quiet After Protest Incidents |author= |newspaper=Lewiston Evening Journal|date=June 13, 1974 |url=http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=aaUgAAAAIBAJ&sjid=hmgFAAAAIBAJ&dq=clifford-glover%20thomas-shea&pg=1435%2C2037650 |accessdate=September 15, 2010}}</ref> Two policemen were injured while dispersing the crowd.<ref name=ToledoBlade> {{cite news |title=Hundreds Riot After Officer is Acquitted |author= |newspaper=Toledo Blade |date=June 14, 1974 |url=http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=zg0xAAAAIBAJ&sjid=JAIEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7411,4590035&dq=clifford+glover&hl=en |accessdate=September 15, 2010}}</ref> Immediately following the shooting, there were several days of riots in the ] neighborhood. At least 24 people, including 14 policemen, were injured; in addition, 25 protesters were arrested.<ref>{{cite news |title=Clifford Glover: Instant Martyrdom|newspaper=The Montreal Gazette|date=May 7, 1973 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=VZouAAAAIBAJ&dq=clifford-glover%20thomas-shea&pg=930%2C2049633 |accessdate=September 15, 2010}}</ref> There were also smaller demonstrations accusing Shea of racism outside the courthouse during the trial.<ref name=TheDay /> The day after Shea was acquitted, hundreds of people began a riot, turning over cars, breaking windows, and stealing cash registers; one protester was arrested in the aftermath<ref>{{cite news |title=Queens Area Quiet After Protest Incidents |newspaper=Lewiston Evening Journal|date=June 13, 1974 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=aaUgAAAAIBAJ&dq=clifford-glover%20thomas-shea&pg=1435%2C2037650 |accessdate=September 15, 2010}}</ref> and rioters injured two police officers.<ref name=ToledoBlade>{{cite news |title=Hundreds Riot After Officer is Acquitted |newspaper=Toledo Blade |date=June 14, 1974 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=zg0xAAAAIBAJ&pg=7411,4590035&dq=clifford+glover&hl=en |accessdate=September 15, 2010}}</ref>

==Trial== ==Trial==
Thomas Shea was put on trial for murder. He was the first New York City police officer ever to be tried for murder while on duty.<ref name=ToledoBlade /><ref>{{cite news |title=Cop Arraigned in Boy's Slaying |author= |newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press|date=June 13, 1973 |url=http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=6VkqAAAAIBAJ&sjid=51QEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7443,6380241&dq=clifford+glover&hl=en |accessdate=September 15, 2010}}</ref> Shea was declared innocent on June 12, 1974.<ref name=TheDay /> Thomas Shea was put on trial for murder. The jury of 11 white people and one black person acquitted Shea. He was the first New York City police officer ever to be tried for murder while on duty.<ref name=ToledoBlade /><ref>{{cite news |title=Cop Arraigned in Boy's Slaying |newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press|date=June 13, 1973 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=6VkqAAAAIBAJ&pg=7443,6380241&dq=clifford+glover&hl=en |accessdate=September 15, 2010}}</ref> Shea was declared not guilty on June 12, 1974.<ref name=TheDay />

⚫ ==References==
== Cultural impact ==
The killing of Clifford Glover and subsequent acquittal of Thomas Shea feature prominently in "Power", a 1975 poem by Caribbean-American poet ] and "NYC Cops", a 2012 song by rapper ]. ] reference the shooting in their 1973 song "]" on the album '']''. The ] released a song titled "Clifford Glover", a protest and recruitment song. ] writes about the shooting and the investigation in detail in ''The Trial of Patrolman Thomas Shea'',<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sevenstories.com/books/3989-the-trial-of-patrolman-thomas-shea |title=Books &#124; Seven Stories Press |publisher=Sevenstories.com |accessdate=2017-04-04}}</ref> which was published by ] in June, 2017.

==See also==
* ]

⚫ == References ==
{{reflist}} {{reflist}}

{{New York City Police Department}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Glover, Clifford}}
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Latest revision as of 10:44, 4 July 2024

1973 police shooting of a child in New York City
Killing of Clifford Glover
DateApril 28, 1973
Time5 a.m.
LocationNew York City, New York, United States

Clifford Glover was a 10-year-old African American boy who was fatally shot by Thomas Shea, an on-duty, undercover policeman, on April 28, 1973. Glover's death, and Shea's later acquittal for a murder charge, led to riots in the South Jamaica section of Queens, New York.

Shooting

At 5 a.m. on April 28, 1973, 10-year-old Clifford Glover was shot when he decided to join his stepfather for some work on a weekend and his stepfather was stopped by two undercover officers, Thomas Shea, and his partner Walter Scott. The two officers believed the boy and his stepfather had just committed a robbery. Glover and his stepfather were afraid of the two officers and ran from them, believing they themselves were about to be harmed.

Shea testified that he drew fire on the boy who appeared to have a weapon. Glover was hit by at least two bullets. When Glover was hit, the officers claimed his father took the alleged weapon from him, which was never recovered. According to Scott the boy told him "Fuck you, you're not taking me".

Rioting

Immediately following the shooting, there were several days of riots in the South Jamaica neighborhood. At least 24 people, including 14 policemen, were injured; in addition, 25 protesters were arrested. There were also smaller demonstrations accusing Shea of racism outside the courthouse during the trial. The day after Shea was acquitted, hundreds of people began a riot, turning over cars, breaking windows, and stealing cash registers; one protester was arrested in the aftermath and rioters injured two police officers.

Trial

Thomas Shea was put on trial for murder. The jury of 11 white people and one black person acquitted Shea. He was the first New York City police officer ever to be tried for murder while on duty. Shea was declared not guilty on June 12, 1974.

Cultural impact

The killing of Clifford Glover and subsequent acquittal of Thomas Shea feature prominently in "Power", a 1975 poem by Caribbean-American poet Audre Lorde and "NYC Cops", a 2012 song by rapper Heems. The Rolling Stones reference the shooting in their 1973 song "Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo (Heartbreaker)" on the album Goat's Head Soup. The Progressive Labor Party released a song titled "Clifford Glover", a protest and recruitment song. Thomas Hauser writes about the shooting and the investigation in detail in The Trial of Patrolman Thomas Shea, which was published by Seven Stories Press in June, 2017.

See also

References

  1. ^ "New York Policeman Acquitted". The Day. June 13, 1974. Retrieved September 15, 2010.
  2. ^ "Policeman Charged with Negro Boy's Murder". New Straits Times. April 30, 1973. Retrieved September 15, 2010.
  3. Hauser, Thomas (1980). The Trial of Patrolman Thomas Shea. Viking Press. p. 210. ISBN 0-670-73013-0. Retrieved September 15, 2010.
  4. "Clifford Glover: Instant Martyrdom". The Montreal Gazette. May 7, 1973. Retrieved September 15, 2010.
  5. "Queens Area Quiet After Protest Incidents". Lewiston Evening Journal. June 13, 1974. Retrieved September 15, 2010.
  6. ^ "Hundreds Riot After Officer is Acquitted". Toledo Blade. June 14, 1974. Retrieved September 15, 2010.
  7. "Cop Arraigned in Boy's Slaying". The Pittsburgh Press. June 13, 1973. Retrieved September 15, 2010.
  8. "Books | Seven Stories Press". Sevenstories.com. Retrieved 2017-04-04.
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