NY) Parents claim courts were responsible for robber's death 09-22-03
Date: Sep 23, 2003 2:40 AM
Address:http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20030922/1016717.asp
Courts criticized in death of robber
By VANESSA THOMAS
News Staff Reporter
9/22/2003
The parents of an 18-year-old who was gunned down while trying to rob a
Northland Avenue convenience store earlier this week say their son might
still be alive if the court system had not failed.
Last Monday, Jason A. Cramer entered a store at 882 Northland Ave. with
a pistol, demanded cash and fired two shots into the wall, police say.
The clerk, who was not hit, hastily grabbed a handful of money from the
cash register and placed it on the counter. Seconds later, the store
owner came from the back room and shot Cramer in the head, killing him
almost instantly.
The event has sparked mixed reaction.
Some gun advocates are praising the store owner - a 67-year-old
Vietnamese man - for using his registered gun to defend the family-owned
store.
Others are questioning the court system and asking why Cramer was
repeatedly given light penalties for committing violent felonies.
A month ago, Cramer had been arrested for the gunpoint robbery of a
Fillmore Avenue grocery store, but he was released from jail on a legal
technicality when prosecutors failed to hold a hearing within the
required time.
"Something went terribly wrong," said his father, Jeffrey Miller, who
lives in Boston. "How the hell did he keep on getting out of jail?"
His mother, Vindella Cramer, believes the courts were way too lenient on
her eldest child.
"Not that I wanted him to stay in jail forever, but I didn't feel
releasing him was the best thing for him," said Cramer, who raised her
son on Gibson Street.
Officials at the Erie County District Attorney's office said Cramer was
released from jail in the August robbery because the victim - their
principal witness - failed to appear at a felony hearing.
Last month, Cramer was arrested for robbing the New York Grocery at 1372
Fillmore Ave.
According to police reports, Cramer was wearing a black ski mask and
gray, hooded sweat shirt when he entered the store on Aug. 10, pointed a
handgun at two employees and fled with $202.
Cramer was charged with six felonies - two counts of robbery, two counts
of criminal possession of stolen property and two counts of criminal
possession of a weapon; he also was charged with three misdemeanors -
resisting arrest, reckless endangerment and obstructing governmental
administration.
On Aug. 11, City Court Judge David Manz held Cramer on $100,000 cash
bond or $200,000 property bond at his arraignment.
But when he appeared at a felony hearing on Aug. 15, he was released on
his own recognizance under a provision of the state law because
prosecutors failed to conduct the court proceedings in a timely manner.
Under that provision, anyone charged with a felony must have a hearing
within five days of arrest, but if that does not occur, the suspect must
be released.
Assistant District Attorney Paul S. Piotrowski, who is in charge of
violent crimes by juveniles, said the hearing didn't happen because the
robbery victim did not show up in court.
Family members say they were shocked and disappointed when he walked out
of court a free man. They had refused to post his bail and thought he
might learn a lesson by sitting in a jail cell, possibly inspiring him
to lead a more positive life.
Cramer was arrested again on Aug. 26, 11 days after his release from
jail, when officers found him with 20 bags of marijuana at Fillmore
Avenue and Sydney Street.
That time, Cramer was sentenced to 15 days in jail. Family members said
he served 10 days and was let go.
About 10 days later, Cramer was shot to death. Police did not release
the identity of the store owner, and they say the shooting will likely
be considered a justifiable homicide.
Vindella Cramer, a single mother raising four other children on public
assistance, said her son was a caring and gifted teen who bought potato
chips for his siblings, worked a brief stint at Darien Lake operating
amusement rides and graduated from School 11 with the second highest
grade in his class.
His funeral was held today in Love Alive Fellowship Full Gospel Baptist
Church, 1787 Genesee St.
Date: Sep 23, 2003 2:40 AM
Address:http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20030922/1016717.asp
Courts criticized in death of robber
By VANESSA THOMAS
News Staff Reporter
9/22/2003
The parents of an 18-year-old who was gunned down while trying to rob a
Northland Avenue convenience store earlier this week say their son might
still be alive if the court system had not failed.
Last Monday, Jason A. Cramer entered a store at 882 Northland Ave. with
a pistol, demanded cash and fired two shots into the wall, police say.
The clerk, who was not hit, hastily grabbed a handful of money from the
cash register and placed it on the counter. Seconds later, the store
owner came from the back room and shot Cramer in the head, killing him
almost instantly.
The event has sparked mixed reaction.
Some gun advocates are praising the store owner - a 67-year-old
Vietnamese man - for using his registered gun to defend the family-owned
store.
Others are questioning the court system and asking why Cramer was
repeatedly given light penalties for committing violent felonies.
A month ago, Cramer had been arrested for the gunpoint robbery of a
Fillmore Avenue grocery store, but he was released from jail on a legal
technicality when prosecutors failed to hold a hearing within the
required time.
"Something went terribly wrong," said his father, Jeffrey Miller, who
lives in Boston. "How the hell did he keep on getting out of jail?"
His mother, Vindella Cramer, believes the courts were way too lenient on
her eldest child.
"Not that I wanted him to stay in jail forever, but I didn't feel
releasing him was the best thing for him," said Cramer, who raised her
son on Gibson Street.
Officials at the Erie County District Attorney's office said Cramer was
released from jail in the August robbery because the victim - their
principal witness - failed to appear at a felony hearing.
Last month, Cramer was arrested for robbing the New York Grocery at 1372
Fillmore Ave.
According to police reports, Cramer was wearing a black ski mask and
gray, hooded sweat shirt when he entered the store on Aug. 10, pointed a
handgun at two employees and fled with $202.
Cramer was charged with six felonies - two counts of robbery, two counts
of criminal possession of stolen property and two counts of criminal
possession of a weapon; he also was charged with three misdemeanors -
resisting arrest, reckless endangerment and obstructing governmental
administration.
On Aug. 11, City Court Judge David Manz held Cramer on $100,000 cash
bond or $200,000 property bond at his arraignment.
But when he appeared at a felony hearing on Aug. 15, he was released on
his own recognizance under a provision of the state law because
prosecutors failed to conduct the court proceedings in a timely manner.
Under that provision, anyone charged with a felony must have a hearing
within five days of arrest, but if that does not occur, the suspect must
be released.
Assistant District Attorney Paul S. Piotrowski, who is in charge of
violent crimes by juveniles, said the hearing didn't happen because the
robbery victim did not show up in court.
Family members say they were shocked and disappointed when he walked out
of court a free man. They had refused to post his bail and thought he
might learn a lesson by sitting in a jail cell, possibly inspiring him
to lead a more positive life.
Cramer was arrested again on Aug. 26, 11 days after his release from
jail, when officers found him with 20 bags of marijuana at Fillmore
Avenue and Sydney Street.
That time, Cramer was sentenced to 15 days in jail. Family members said
he served 10 days and was let go.
About 10 days later, Cramer was shot to death. Police did not release
the identity of the store owner, and they say the shooting will likely
be considered a justifiable homicide.
Vindella Cramer, a single mother raising four other children on public
assistance, said her son was a caring and gifted teen who bought potato
chips for his siblings, worked a brief stint at Darien Lake operating
amusement rides and graduated from School 11 with the second highest
grade in his class.
His funeral was held today in Love Alive Fellowship Full Gospel Baptist
Church, 1787 Genesee St.
