On July 16 , 1964 , NYPD officer Thomas Gilligan shot .
On July 16 , 1964 , NYPD officer Thomas Gilligan killed a 15 - year - old African - American student , James Powell .
On July 16 , 1964 , NYPD officer Thomas Gilligan shot and killed a 15 - year - old African - American student , James Powell .