Brooklyn District Attorney Kenneth Thompson says “justice was done” when a jury convicted a New York City police officer of fatally shooting a man in the stairwell of a public housing building.
Speaking after the jury reached a verdict Thursday evening, Thompson said Officer Peter Liang’s trial “had nothing to do with Ferguson,” a reference to the fatal shooting of an unarmed man by an officer in Missouri.
He said Akai Gurley’s death brought people from all walks of life together.
The 28-year-old was shot and killed after being shot by a ricocheting bullet fired by the rookie officer. He was patrolling the stairwell in 2014 when he fired his gun.
Prosecutors said Liang’s actions were reckless. His lawyer argued the shooting was a tragedy, not a crime.
Liang faces up to 15 years in prison when he’s sentenced in April. He was fired from the police force after the verdict was delivered.
