WEST HAVEN — The one-year anniversary of the death of Mubarak Soulemane, a New Haven resident shot and killed by a state trooper off Interstate 95 in West Haven following a pursuit has passed .
A crowd gathered to call for justice in his name. His mother wept, her tears shining in the light feet away from where he was killed.
The state’s investigation remains open.
Soulemane was shot and killed on Jan. 15 2020, after he allegedly displayed a knife at an AT&T store in Norwalk, then carjacked a rideshare driver and engaged officers in a high-speed chase that was stopped by police after Soulemane got off at Exit 43 in West Haven and crashed.
A vigil is held in memory of Mubarak Soulemane at the I95 overpass along Campbell Avenue in West Haven, Conn., on Friday Jan. 15, 2021. Soulemane, a New Haven resident, was fatally shot by state Trooper Brian North after a car chase on Jan. 15, 2020.
Christian Abraham / Hearst Connecticut MediaFamily members said they believed he had been suffering a schizophrenic episode.
Jared Sullivan attends a vigil held in memory of his friend Mubarak Soulemane at the I95 overpass along Campbell Avenue in West Haven, Conn., on Friday Jan. 15, 2021. Soulemane, a New Haven resident, was fatally shot by state Trooper Brian North after a car chase on Jan. 15, 2020.
Christian Abraham / Hearst Connecticut Media
Mariam Khan draws on the wall as she attends a vigil held in memory of her friend Mubarak Soulemane at the I95 overpass along Campbell Avenue in West Haven, Conn., on Friday Jan. 15, 2021. Soulemane, a New Haven resident, was fatally shot by state Trooper Brian North after a car chase on Jan. 15, 2020.
Christian Abraham / Hearst Connecticut Media
Mubarak Soulemane's sister Mariyann Soulemane, left, and his mother Imo Mohammed speak to the media at the start of a vigil for Soulemane at the I95 overpass along Campbell Avenue in West Haven, Conn., on Friday Jan. 15, 2021. Soulemane, a New Haven resident, was fatally shot by state Trooper Brian North after a car chase on Jan. 15, 2020.
Christian Abraham / Hearst Connecticut Media
Organizer Kira Ortoleva lights a candle for a vigil held in memory of Mubarak Soulemane at the I95 overpass along Campbell Avenue in West Haven, Conn., on Friday Jan. 15, 2021. Soulemane, a New Haven resident, was fatally shot by state Trooper Brian North after a car chase on Jan. 15, 2020.
Christian Abraham / Hearst Connecticut Media
A vigil is held in memory of Mubarak Soulemane at the I95 overpass along Campbell Avenue in West Haven, Conn., on Friday Jan. 15, 2021. Soulemane, a New Haven resident, was fatally shot by state Trooper Brian North after a car chase on Jan. 15, 2020.
Christian Abraham / Hearst Connecticut Media
A vigil is held in memory of Mubarak Soulemane at the I95 overpass along Campbell Avenue in West Haven, Conn., on Friday Jan. 15, 2021. Soulemane, a New Haven resident, was fatally shot by state Trooper Brian North after a car chase on Jan. 15, 2020.
Christian Abraham / Hearst Connecticut Media
A vigil is held in memory of Mubarak Soulemane at the I95 overpass along Campbell Avenue in West Haven, Conn., on Friday Jan. 15, 2021. Soulemane, a New Haven resident, was fatally shot by state Trooper Brian North after a car chase on Jan. 15, 2020.
Christian Abraham / Hearst Connecticut Media
Amelia Sullivan, center, attends a vigil held in memory of his friend Mubarak Soulemane at the I95 overpass along Campbell Avenue in West Haven, Conn., on Friday Jan. 15, 2021. Soulemane, a New Haven resident, was fatally shot by state Trooper Brian North after a car chase on Jan. 15, 2020.
Christian Abraham / Hearst Connecticut Media
A vigil is held in memory of Mubarak Soulemane at the I95 overpass along Campbell Avenue in West Haven, Conn., on Friday Jan. 15, 2021. Soulemane, a New Haven resident, was fatally shot by state Trooper Brian North after a car chase on Jan. 15, 2020.
Christian Abraham / Hearst Connecticut Media
A vigil is held in memory of Mubarak Soulemane at the I95 overpass along Campbell Avenue in West Haven, Conn., on Friday Jan. 15, 2021. Soulemane, a New Haven resident, was fatally shot by state Trooper Brian North after a car chase on Jan. 15, 2020.
Christian Abraham / Hearst Connecticut Media
A vigil is held in memory of Mubarak Soulemane at the I95 overpass along Campbell Avenue in West Haven, Conn., on Friday Jan. 15, 2021. Soulemane, a New Haven resident, was fatally shot by state Trooper Brian North after a car chase on Jan. 15, 2020.
Christian Abraham / Hearst Connecticut Media
A vigil is held in memory of Mubarak Soulemane at the I95 overpass along Campbell Avenue in West Haven, Conn., on Friday Jan. 15, 2021. Soulemane, a New Haven resident, was fatally shot by state Trooper Brian North after a car chase on Jan. 15, 2020.
Christian Abraham / Hearst Connecticut Media
A vigil is held in memory of Mubarak Soulemane at the I95 overpass along Campbell Avenue in West Haven, Conn., on Friday Jan. 15, 2021. Soulemane, a New Haven resident, was fatally shot by state Trooper Brian North after a car chase on Jan. 15, 2020.
Christian Abraham / Hearst Connecticut Media
Amelia Sullivan attends a vigil held in memory of his friend Mubarak Soulemane at the I95 overpass along Campbell Avenue in West Haven, Conn., on Friday Jan. 15, 2021. Soulemane, a New Haven resident, was fatally shot by state Trooper Brian North after a car chase on Jan. 15, 2020.
Christian Abraham / Hearst Connecticut Media
Family lawyer Mark Arons speaks during a vigil held in memory of Mubarak Soulemane at the I95 overpass along Campbell Avenue in West Haven, Conn., on Friday Jan. 15, 2021. Soulemane, a New Haven resident, was fatally shot by state Trooper Brian North after a car chase on Jan. 15, 2020.
Christian Abraham / Hearst Connecticut Media
A vigil is held in memory of Mubarak Soulemane at the I95 overpass along Campbell Avenue in West Haven, Conn., on Friday Jan. 15, 2021. Soulemane, a New Haven resident, was fatally shot by state Trooper Brian North after a car chase on Jan. 15, 2020.
Christian Abraham / Hearst Connecticut MediaBrian North fired seven shots through the car’s closed window, killing the 19-year-old New Haven resident. State police said he saw a knife in Soulemane’s possession. Another officer had used a stun gun on Soulemane moments earlier, as shown in body camera footage of the incident.
Middlesex State’s Attorney Michael A. Gailor, assigned to investigate the use of force, extended condolences to Soulemane’s family this week and noted his inquiry into the matter remained ongoing.
“While we are striving to complete the investigation as quickly as possible, our primary goal is to ensure that the investigation is thorough and complete,” Gailor said in a statement.
North was placed on administrative assignment after the shooting. State police said this week that his employment status has not changed.
Soulemane’s family and local residents gathered on Campbell Avenue in West Haven near Exit 43 to hold a vigil honoring his memory.
Mubarak Soulemane's mother Imo Mohammed sheds a tear as she speaks to the media at the start of a vigil for Soulemane at the I95 overpass along Campbell Avenue in West Haven, Conn., on Friday Jan. 15, 2021. Soulemane, a New Haven resident, was fatally shot by state Trooper Brian North after a car chase on Jan. 15, 2020.
Christian Abraham / Hearst Connecticut MediaOmo Mohammed, his mother, and Mariyann Soulemane, his sister, described the pain of mourning their loved one, noted that he battled schizophrenia and called for North to be arrested and prosecuted.
“I want him to be held accountable for killing him. It’s a sad day for me today,” said Mohammed, who asked those that pray to include Soulemane’s name.
Mariyann Soulemane noted that her brother had his life ahead of him. She said he was caring, good with children, ambitious. People from “all walks of life were drawn to his light,” she said.
A vigil is held in memory of Mubarak Soulemane at the I95 overpass along Campbell Avenue in West Haven, Conn., on Friday Jan. 15, 2021. Soulemane, a New Haven resident, was fatally shot by state Trooper Brian North after a car chase on Jan. 15, 2020.
Christian Abraham / Hearst Connecticut Media“Unfortunately, with his sickness, it held him back a lot. But underneath that sickness still (lay) our Mubarak, a very loving, caring soul,” said Soulemane. “He had so much more life to live.”
New Haven police had helped Soulemane on multiple occasions in the past, Mohammed said. They knew his situation; knew how to talk to him when he was in trouble; took him to the hospital.
Mariyann Soulemane told the crowd Friday that her family would never be the same, breaking into tears as she described missing his laughter and his “obnoxious singing.”
Kira Ortoleva and Jared Sullivan, who said they were friends of Soulemane, described him as a joyous and gracious young man.
Ortoleva, a climate and justice activist who leads the group Justice for Mubarak, which organized the vigil, said she had befriended Mubarak at Gateway Community College, where they were both studying.
“The thing about Mubarak was that he always, always offered to help you,” said Ortoleva. “There were a few instances where he came to my town, and we would drive around, talking with friends and listening to music. And he always danced in the car as we drove, because even when he was around new people, he always had to make sure everyone else was smiling, too. This is how I remember him.”
Sullivan said Mubarak had been one of his first friends at Notre Dame High School. When he was dealing with difficult times, he said Mubarak stood by him.
“I would say Mubi was my best friend in high school, because he was always there for me,” said Sullivan. “He was always there for me. Never once did he let me down.”
Ortoleva, Sullivan and others in attendance Friday called for police reform.
“This isn’t normal. This isn’t a normal death. How do you expect us to grieve? How? West Haven, Norwalk?” said Ortoleva.
“Disobeying the law is not a death sentence. People who don’t obey the law do not deserve to be shot seven times.... If I disobeyed the law, I wouldn’t want to be killed,” said Sullivan. “And Mubarak should not have been killed.”
Attorneys Mark Arons and Sanford Rubenstein, representing the Soulemane family as they pursue a civil lawsuit, were in attendance, as well.
“Today is the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr., and it also marks, obviously, the one year anniversary” of Soulemane’s death, said Arons. “Both are part of the struggle for civil rights and for justice. The struggle continues.”
william.lambert@hearstmediact.com
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