Photo Credit: Good Morning America/ABC News
The 9-year-old boy who was accused of sexually assaulting a white woman while exiting a local deli is speaking out today and sharing his thoughts about last week’s incident.
Jeremiah Harvey was accused of sexually assaulting a white woman when leaving Sahara Deli Market in Brooklyn. Teresa Klein, who’s been dubbed “Cornerstore Caroline,” frantically called police after claiming he groped her as he exited the store with his mother and sister.
“Her son grabbed my ass,” Klein screamed.
Unfortunately for Klein, video showed Harvey, who’s traumatized from the incident, never touched her. It was his backpack that grazed her as he walked out of the store with his mother.
Harvey and his mother sat down with ABC News’ Linsey Davis on Good Morning America and said, “I can’t think about nothing more but this.”
“I was humiliated,” Jeremiah said with tears rolling down his face.
Jeremiah’s mother, Someko Bellille, joined the conversation, saying “It was devastating for him because even after walking away he saw police cars on Flatbush Ave and said, ‘Mommy, are they here to take you away from us?’”
She continued, “To be having a conversation with your son about sexual assault at the age of 9…I never thought I would be having this conversation with my son at all.”
Klein has since issued an apology to Jeremiah after watching the surveillance footage. “Young man, I don’t know your name, but I’m sorry.”
Jeremiah’s mother said, “I accept her apology. I want unity. I don’t want no harm brought to this lady.” But when Davis asked the 9-year-old boy if he too accepted the apology, he hesitated, took a deep breath, and ultimately said, “Yes, I do accept her apology.”
Smokeo Bellille hopes her son’s incident will be a lesson to people to be more kind and accepting.