Officer Peter Liang convicted of manslaughter in fatal shooting of Akai Gurley

A New York jury convicted NYPD officer Peter Liang of manslaughter and official misconduct on Thursday.

The charges stem from the 2014 shooting of Akai Gurley, an unarmed man in a Brooklyn housing project stairwell.

Jurors deliberated for 17 hours over two days, requesting whiteboards and the NYPD’s firearm and tactics guide.

Liang will be automatically dismissed from the police department following the conviction.

Gurley, 28, was shot in the chest and died at a nearby hospital in November 2014.

Police Commissioner William Bratton later called Gurley “a total innocent” and described the incident as “a very unfortunate tragedy.”

Defense Argument

Liang’s attorneys said he followed training and drew his weapon appropriately in the dark stairwell.

On Monday, Liang testified emotionally, saying, “I was panicking. I was in shock, in disbelief that someone was actually hit.”

Prosecution’s Case

Prosecutors argued Liang fired recklessly and failed to help Gurley after the shooting.

Assistant District Attorney Marc Fliedner said Liang “wasted precious time arguing with his partner about calling for help.”

Instead of aiding Gurley, Liang “stood there and whined and moaned about how he would get fired,” Fliedner told jurors.

Next Steps

Liang will be sentenced in April. The case has reignited debate over police accountability and training in high-risk environments.