Father of Murdered Son Says Kathy Hochul Is ‘Tone-Deaf to the Suffering of Families Like Mine’

The father of a murdered 20-year-old called out New York governor Kathy Hochul (D.) for her repeated dismissals of increasing crime in her state.

Jason Williams, whose son Ethan was fatally shot in New York City two years ago, said Hochul’s constant downplaying is “tone-deaf to the suffering of families like mine.” Ethan was fatally struck by a stray bullet during a vacation with friends.

“To hear one candidate say to another, ‘I’m not sure why that’s so important to you’ in regards to crime surges in New York is tone-deaf,” Williams said in reference to Hochul’s comment during the Oct. 25 gubernatorial debate when Republican Lee Zeldin pressed the governor to speak on crime and cashless bail.

“The weight of silence of your elected leaders has not gone unnoticed,” Wiliams added.

A suspect in Ethan Williams’s murder was arrested last week, more than two years after the killing. The suspect has nine prior arrests dating back nine years.

“My son is dead because a criminal with nine previous arrests was free, walking the streets of New York City,” Williams said.

Hochul also called the topic of crime a “conspiracy” and said that it’s just a few “high-profile instances” creating a “sense of fear.”

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