Family, friends demand State Attorney take action 11 months after graffiti artist's death

Announce large mobilization in Miami Beach for August

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. – Family and friends of Israel "Reefa" Hernandez are demanding that State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle take action in Hernandez' case 11 months after Miami Beach Police Officer Jorge Mercado killed him with a stun gun.

Several months of protests and public pressure have passed since Hernandez' death, but to no avail.  The Miami Beach Police Department and Rundle have taken no action so far, even though the Office of Miami Dade's Medical Examiner released a report in March confirming that the Taser caused the death of the 18-year-old Miami graffiti artist.

Monday, Hernandez' family held a press conference at Rundle's office to demand that she charge and arrest officer Mercado, and to announce a large mobilization in Miami Beach for the first anniversary of his death.

The family is planning on holding a vigil for Reefa next month on Aug. 6 at 71st and Collins Avenue followed by a rally.