Heartbreaking; Mother Arrested at Hospital While Trying to See Her Dying Son

This story caught me off guard when I first read about it on the Root. According to the York Daily Record, on Tuesday, after Cheirha Rankins arrived home from visiting her grandmother’s grave, she received a phone call that her son, Nylik Moore, had been shot. She rushed to York Hospital a few blocks away in York, Pa., unaware that her son had already been pronounced dead.

When Rankins arrived, she attempted to enter the emergency room but was told that the hospital was on lockdown. She pleaded with employees to let her in, believing her voice could help save her 18-year-old son’s life, but they refused. Her family arrived and began crying, praying and begging police officers to allow the mother to see her dying child.

Inside, a deputy coroner was examining the body and preserving evidence. Upon completing the examination, the deputy coroner wanted to allow Moore’s family to view the body, saying that it was an important part of the grieving process.

“If we don’t do it, then the family won’t see their loved one until the body returns from the autopsy,” explained coroner Pam Gay. “We try to do everything within our power to make that happen here.”

But the deputy coroner’s request was denied. Instead, officials told the deputy to tell Moore’s family that he was dead and that they’d have to view the body another time. Obviously upset, Rankins demanded that she be allowed entry, and the police refused her.

Rankins then said she was trying to help her mother, who suffers from a respiratory illness and uses a walker, when police arrested her. Moore’s sister captured the incident on video.

According to the report, Rankins’ fiance, Lamar Sistrunk, asked an officer what the officer would do if Moore had been his son, to which he said the cop replied: “My son wouldn’t be in that predicament.”

Rankins was handcuffed, taken to central booking, issued a citation for disorderly conduct and later released. Three days later, she still hadn’t viewed the body of her son.

You would think the officer response would've been more sensitive, even just a little since we already seen first hand how police officers truly feel towards the African-American community. However his response was disgusting, and I think even at this point even if he does apologize it would be insulting since he should've never made such an insensitive comment to began with. This could've definitely been handled differently and my condolences goes out to the family. Seeing your loved one for the last time before they go off to the funeral home is very important and unfortunately this family grief was only made worst.  

So far the latest is that a possible suspect is in custody following the shooting, however he has not been charged with anything relating to the killing of Nylik Moore.