December 23, 2025 The air outside the 101st Precinct in Far Rockaway was heavy on Monday, not just with the December chill, but with the visceral, guttural screams of a mother who had just watched her only son die.

Sheanette Dunbar and Kevin Fray didn’t come to the stationhouse to mourn in private. They came to accuse the NYPD of a narrative they claim is a fabrication. Flanked by activist Rev. Kevin McCall, the parents of 29-year-old Chez Fray presented a harrowing version of Sunday morning’s events—one that fundamentally contradicts the official police report.

The NYPD Narrative: A Split-Second Decision

According to NYPD Chief of Patrol Philip Rivera, the incident began at 12:25 a.m. Sunday at 1170 Nameoke St. after the elder Fray called for assistance with his son, who was reportedly acting erratically.

The police claim:

• Officers met the parents outside and searched the apartment.

• Upon exiting, they encountered Chez in the hallway, allegedly armed with a boxcutter.

• Police say Chez "charged" at them, ignoring commands to drop the weapon.

• One officer deployed a Taser while a second officer fired her service weapon, killing the young man.

The Family’s Truth: "He Embraced His Son"

The Frays say that version of events is a lie. Through Rev. McCall, the family insists there was no hallway altercation and no "charge." Instead, they describe a moment of parental love that ended in state-sanctioned violence.

"He embraced his son. When he saw his son, he told him he loved him," McCall stated. "There was no altercation that happened inside the hallway."

The family contends the boxcutter was merely a tool Chez was using to cut marijuana and was never brandished as a weapon against the officers.

A Shocking Accusation: "Why Did You Shoot Him?"

Perhaps the most damaging allegation leveled Monday involves the conduct of the two officers on the scene. The parents claim that in the immediate aftermath of the gunfire, the two partners were in disagreement.

"The police officer told her partner: ‘Why did you shoot him?’" McCall revealed, alleging that one officer had explicitly told the other not to fire.

In the chaos following the shooting, Kevin Fray—the grieving father who had called for help—was reportedly handcuffed and taken into custody. The NYPD has yet to explain the grounds for that arrest.

What Happens Next?

The family and Rev. McCall are now calling for three things:

1. Immediate Release of Body Cam Footage: To provide an unbiased record of the hallway encounter.

2. Attorney General Intervention: A formal request for AG Letitia James to investigate the shooting.

3. Accountability: Clarification on why a call for help resulted in a fatality within minutes.

As the press conference concluded, Sheanette Dunbar’s voice broke through the noise of the city, a sound that will likely haunt those in attendance for weeks: "I begged her: please don’t kill my only child... I said don’t shoot. Oh, Jesus!"

Sources within the Attorney General’s office have confirmed they are currently conducting a preliminary assessment of the case.

Do you think the NYPD should be required to release body camera footage within 24 hours of a fatal shooting? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.