The man at the center of the 1991 Crown Heights riot now lives incognito in a New Jersey town, untroubled by memories of his terrible deed.
“Up until today, I left it alone,” Lemrick Nelson Jr., now 34, told The Post. “I don’t even think about it.”
“That was 19 years ago,” he said about fatally stabbing Hasid scholar Yankel Rosenbaum at the height of the notorious race riot. “I was a kid then. I made a mistake. Kids make mistakes. I’m a man now. I’ve never been in or out of trouble. I don’t live that life.”
In his first interview since his 2004 release from prison, Nelson described himself as a sober family man.
“I don’t drink anymore because of what happened in 1991,” he said. Nelson’s legal team had blamed his violent act on drunkenness.
The Brooklyn riot was sparked when a Hasidic motorcade struck and killed a black child, Gavin Cato, 7. Hours later, a mob of angry black residents, including Nelson, hunted down Rosenbaum, a visiting Australian who had nothing to do with the fatal accident.
Bloody rioting, and clashes with cops, continued for days. By the end, 152 cops and 38 residents were injured, six stores were looted, and 27 police cars damaged.
Nelson now lives with a woman and their toddler daughter in an apartment in Hillside.
Neighbors and even his landlady, unaware of his notorious past, call him by his new nickname, “Ricky.”
Nelson, who was tried three times for Rosenbaum’s death and eventually served 10 years in prison, offered an apology for the riot, but not to his victim’s family. “I regret the fact that people got hurt out there,” he said.
He repeatedly asked that his whereabouts and current life not be disclosed. “Let bygones be bygones,” he pleaded. “All it will do is bring back people’s memories. You’re just going to create tension for me.”
(Source: NY Post)
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13 Responses
selfish piece of trash, why isnt he doing life in prison?
No apology to the family why not? I do not not think he has learned anything. He apology for the riots which was good but why not the family.Said he gave up drinking; he does not want to be found that is great but what about the lost to the victim family. If he had a bit of compession as a person who would have apology to the family a long time ago. I think this person has still a lot to learn
I agree, let bygones be bygones, but the least he could do is apologize and show some remorse.
Please put the judge jury and janet reno in prison for letting this beast loose.
“Nelson, who was tried three times for Rosenbaum’s death and eventually, served 10 years in prison, offered an apology for the riot, but not to his victim’s family.”
While Nelson was sentenced to ten years in prison for stabbing Yankel, Brooklyn Federal Judge Frederic Block ordered Nelson to spend nine months at the Kintock halfway house in Newark whereupon he was released- taking into account time off for good behavior and time spent in jail for an unrelated crime.
I agree, what complete lowlife… Bygones be bygones?????????? You killed an innocent man, you piece of trash. He absolutely should at the very least spend life in prison. I think his exact address should be plastered all over the internet…
“Let bygones be bygones,” he pleaded. “All it will do is bring back people’s memories. You’re just going to create tension for me.”
Oy, poor bubbeleh. This chaleriya has a box seat awaiting him in g’henim. May he get there b’korov!!
Let bygones be bygones? Let’s all send that quote to Judge Linda Reade!!! after all SMR didn’t kill anyone did he?
#8 – If you are going to compare then compare to the Grossman murder not to Rubashkin’s troubles.
#1 I just have one word to add to your description of him- he’s an “arogant selfish piece of trash”
10 years in prison for murdering an innocent man?? But Rubashkin???? US Justice system??!! TO YWN: nobody is interested in this horrible murderers face Al tistakel pnei rasha.
“Let bygones be bygones…You’re just going to create tension for me.”
Oiy, nebech.
Vayiftach Hashem ess pi HoOson