Nicholas Heyward Sr. Place (Brooklyn)
Present name:None
Location:At the intersection of Bond Street and Baltic Street
Honoree: Nicholas Heyward Sr. (d. December 31, 2018) was the father of Nicholas Heyward Jr., who was fatally shot by a New York City Housing Authority police officer in the nearby housing complex where he lived with his mother, father, and younger brother. On September 27, 1994, Heyward Jr. and his friends were playing cops and robbers in the stairwell of the Gowanus Houses, using plastic toy guns with bright orange-colored handles and tips. Heyward Jr. was shot in the stomach by a Housing Police Officer and died a short time later at St. Vincent's Hospital in Manhattan. There is a park named after him (2001). Nicholas Heyward Sr. became an activist against police brutality. He helped establish Parents Against Police Brutality; spent years lobbying for changes in police procedures; and consoled many people whose loved ones had been killed by police officers. He fought for toy stores to stop carrying authentic-looking toy guns, and spoke in schools, churches and other places regarding gun violence. As a result of his actions and his son’s tragedy, Toys R Us and Kmart announced they would not sell any toy guns that could be modified to look like real guns. He started an annual march against police brutality as one of the first members of the October 22 Coalition, a group that has documented and protested police killings nationally. He testified before members of Congress at Medgar Evers College on gun violence in 1997, and also established the Nicholas Naquan Heyward Jr. Memorial Foundation to assist youths in Brooklyn. (Levin)
LL:2022/54

Nicholas Naquan Heyward, Jr. Park (Brooklyn)
Present name:Gowanus Park
Location:Wyckoff Street between Bond Street and Hoyt Street
Honoree: Nicholas Nequan Heyward, Jr. (1981-1994) was playing with a realistic-looking toy rifle when he was shot by a police officer. His death led to new regulations on the design of toy guns.
LL:2001/46