NEW YORK — A Brooklyn teenager, wrongly accused of being involved in a fatal shooting at last year’s West Indian Day Parade, is speaking out after enduring months of threats and fear due to a mistaken NYPD social media post.
Camden Lee, who was 15 years old at the time of the incident, described the last five months as stressful and terrifying, with his family forced to move temporarily for safety.
A Mistaken Social Media Post and Its Consequences
The situation began when the NYPD released Lee’s photo in September, identifying him as being wanted for the shooting, which left one man dead and several others injured.
Lee’s mother, Chee Chee Brock, said the mistake immediately put her family at risk.
“I had to move my family, all of my children, away for a while for safety. I was afraid for our lives,” Brock said.
Although the NYPD removed the image after meeting with Brock, the department mistakenly recirculated the same image in December, further compounding the family’s ordeal.
“At this point, I don’t have anything to say to them. I’m gonna let my lawyer talk to them,” Brock said.
Legal Action and Calls for Social Media Reform
The family’s attorney, Wylie Stecklow, criticized the NYPD’s handling of the situation and called for improved social media practices within the department.
“They put my client in a dangerous position and in a slanderous position,” Stecklow said.
Stecklow referenced a recent Department of Investigations (DOI) report, which found that some NYPD social media posts violated city policies and lacked proper oversight. The report emphasized the need for formal training on posting appropriate content to avoid such errors.
“This is just another example in a long list of those problems,” Stecklow added.
NYPD Apologizes for the Mistake
In a statement, the NYPD acknowledged their error, explaining that the initial social media post wrongly stated Lee was wanted for the shooting, rather than clarifying that he was only a person of interest.
“The NYPD should have immediately corrected this misstatement,” the statement read. “We apologize for the error and will continue to seek justice for the victims of this shooting.”
Camden Lee: Holding Onto Trust in the Police
Despite the serious mistake and the months of threats, Lee remains optimistic and holds faith in the police.
“I felt it was unprofessional and more could’ve been done to make sure they had the right person,” Lee said. “But I still have trust in them. I still have a lot of faith in them.”
His mother, standing by his side, emphasized his innocence, stating, “I just want everyone to know that my son is innocent.”
As the family seeks accountability and improved social media protocols, the case highlights the potential dangers of mismanaged social media posts, particularly when they involve serious accusations and public safety. With legal representation and ongoing dialogue with the NYPD, Brock and her family hope to prevent similar incidents from happening to others in the future.
