By Jessica Easthope
Coney Island Avenue was silent as the Muslim call to prayer rang out. A group of Aviation High School graduates waited in line to pay their respects to a fallen officer and their best friend.
“From a young age he wanted to do good, fight crime and help out people,” said Nader Ahmed, a good friend and high school classmate of the slain 26-year-old officer.
Thousands of NYPD officers stood at attention outside of Al-Rayaan Muslim Funeral Services and Makki Masjid where Fayaz’s viewing and funeral were held,Thursday.
Fayaz battled for his life for days and died Monday in the hospital from a gunshot wound to the head. On Saturday, police say he and his brother-in-law were lured to East New York by 38-year-old, Randy Jones, a man with more than 20 prior arrests who, according to Brooklyn prosecutors, advertised a car on Facebook marketplace and planned to steal $24,000 from them.
According to Fayaz’s brother-in-law Jones wasted no time. He asked for the money and fired. His brother-in-law then shot at Jones six times with Fayaz’s service weapon. He got away but was found days later in a hotel in upstate New York and was arrested with Fayaz’s handcuffs.
“It’s punishable, it’s punishable, I don’t know how but under the law it should be because there was an innocent person lost,” said Fayaz’s family friend, Mirza Baig.
Baig livestreamed the crowd outside the funeral home for Fayaz’s mother and family back in Pakistan. He said there was no better man.
“He’s a good father, good brother and good friend he never had negative points, he always had a point that was positive, was always a friend to everyone and we lost him, we’re never going to find anything, never,” he said.
The debate on bail reform in New York City resurfaced in the wake of officer Fayaz’s death.
According to the NYPD nearly 25 percent of those arrested for burglary go on to commit another felony within 60 days. NYPD Deputy Chief Chaplain Monsignor Robert Romano said we need to pray for change.
“Our city is in trouble, our society is in trouble, these laws that we created that people get out of jail and it’s much easier for them, we need change and that change is not coming because the people here to protect us they’re being killed too,” said Monsignor Romano.
Randy Jones has been charged with second degree murder, attempted robbery and criminal possession of a weapon. He’s being held without bail and is due back in court on Friday.