Bloomberg: Kimani Gray's Mother Changed Cell Phone Number To Avoid My Condolences

Bloomberg: Slain Teen's Mom Changed Cell Number To Avoid Me
NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 13: A photograph of Kimani Gray and his younger sister is illuminated by candles at a memorial in his honor, March 13, 2013 in the East Flatbush neighborhood of the Brooklyn borough of New York City. 16-year-old Kimani Gray was shot and killed by police on March 9, provoking protests and unrest in the neighborhood. (Photo by Allison Joyce/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 13: A photograph of Kimani Gray and his younger sister is illuminated by candles at a memorial in his honor, March 13, 2013 in the East Flatbush neighborhood of the Brooklyn borough of New York City. 16-year-old Kimani Gray was shot and killed by police on March 9, provoking protests and unrest in the neighborhood. (Photo by Allison Joyce/Getty Images)

While Mayor Michael Bloomberg has promised to conduct a "full and fair investigation" into the death of Kimani Gray, the 16-year-old shot and killed by NYPD officers in Brooklyn earlier this month, his plans to offer condolences to Gray's parents have proved unsuccessful.

The New York Times reports Bloomberg has attempted to reach out to the mother, Carol Gray, on numerous occasions but she remains uninterested in speaking with the mayor.

"I give eulogies at cops’ funerals," Bloomberg said. "I call parents when their kids are killed. You know, sometimes I don’t get to them. There’s this 16-year-old. I’ve tried, and the woman, the mother, is not taking any calls, changed her phone number so I can’t, but I did reach out.”

An attorney representing Gray's mother dismissed the mayor's attempts as mere publicity stunts.

“We weren’t interested in the photo op," Kenneth J. Montgomery said. "In the totem pole of important things and important emotions, that would come somewhere at the bottom.”

On March 9, Gray was shot seven times by plainclothes officers who claim the boy had pulled a gun at them.

Bloomberg is a staunch defender of NYPD stop-and-frisks, the same police practice community members say led to Gray's tragic death.

His death has ignited a wave of protests in the East Flatbush neighborhood of Brooklyn where Gray lived and died. Dozens were arrested.

Gray's mother said she did not condone the violence that erupted at some of the demonstrations, but instead wants answers.

At Gray's funeral this past Saturday, neither Bloomberg nor Police Commissioner Ray Kelly were present.

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