Eddie Gibbs | |
|---|---|
| Member of theNew York State Assembly from the68th district | |
| Assumed office January 26, 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Robert Rodriguez |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1968-10-28)October 28, 1968 (age 57) New York City,New York, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Education | Cayuga Community College |
| Signature |  |
Edward L. Gibbs (born October 28, 1968) is anAmericanpolitician who has represented the 68th district in theNew York State Assembly since 2022.[1][2] He is the first formerly incarceratedNew York Assembly member.[3]
Born the second-eldest of four, Gibbs was raised in public housing inEast Harlem by a single mother. His family lived off ofwelfare.[4] As a teenager, Gibbs sold crack cocaine to support his family.[5]
At 17 years old, Gibbs was stabbed in the leg in an attempted robbery. In what he later said was an act of self defense, Gibbs shot and killed his attacker before turning himself in at a local police station.[5] He spent 17 months onRikers Island before accepting a plea deal and pleaded guilty tomanslaughter. Gibbs then served time at theElmira,Cayuga, andMid-State Correctional Facilities.[6] In prison, he received hisGED andassociate degree.[4]
On October 3, 2024, Gibbs was arrested and taken into custody following a confrontation with police which occurred after his brother was pulled over after having an unregistered vehicle.[7][8] The incident, which started out as a heated conversation before escalating, would later result in a dozen police cars responding.[7][8] Gibbs was not immediately released and still remained in custody during the afternoon.[8] Though the reason for the arrest was not immediately specified, it was not believed to be connected to the ongoing criminal investigation against New York Mayor Eric Adams, who Gibbs is an ally of.[8][7] Later in the day, while speaking outside his precinct office, Gibbs apologized to "officer Fibbs" and "officer Peter," stating that the arrest was justified and that he had interfered with a police investigation.[9] Despite this, the exact charges he is facing remain unknown.[9]