Just one year ago, NYPD officer, Peter Liang was indicted in the shooting death of an unarmed black male, Akai Gurley, 28 . Liang called the 2014 ‘stairwell’ shooting an accident, while admitting that he and his partner, Shaun Landau did not use ‘protocol’ to call for ambulance, and called his union rep instead as Gurley’s body went lifeless just seconds after the bullet pierced his chest.
An innocent Gurley had opted to use the stairs since the Pink Houses projects elevator was out of service when he encountered Liang. Liang [who was conducted a routine patrol run] says that he was holding his weapon as he opened the stairwell door and accidentally fired at Gurley.
Liang who had been on the police force for less than a year [at the time] was fired from the police department after the shooting incident.
Earlier this evening the jury had reached a GUILTY verdict for 2nd -degree manslaughter and official misconduct. Liang faces up to 15 years in prison, and is set to receive sentencing on April 14th of this year.
The Verdict represents the first time an NYPD officer has been found guilty of killing a citizen in decades. #akaigurley
— Max RN (@MaxRivlinNadler) February 12, 2016
Brooklyn District Attorney, Kenneth Thompson said this after the verdict:
” I Told Gurley’s Mother, I’m Sorry. There Are No Winners. This Is A Tragedy All Over…. He Was A Father, A Brother, And Son “
Many of Liang supporters felt that rookie cop was nothing more than a ‘scapegoat’ in this case, and are shocked by the verdict.
#PeterLiang is the only police officer to be convicted of a crime for killing someone in 2014. #AkaiGurley
— Samuel Sinyangwe (@samswey) February 12, 2016
No mandatory prison time for manslaughter 2 conviction. #PeterLiang could get probation. #1010WINS
— Juliet Papa (@winsjuliet) February 12, 2016
#PeterLiang is about to receive a valuable lesson that all PoC serving in racist institutions should learn: They will throw you under. Quit.
— Narco Rubio (@BlackAutonomist) February 12, 2016
One Love PLUMS!