Police
Officer Peter Liang convicted of manslaughter in fatal shooting of Akai Gurley
Peter Liang found guilty of manslaughter and misconduct in the shooting death 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.
Real stories. Real impact. Straight to your inbox. Join thousands others. Click here to subscribe to our newsletter today!
Follow us on Facebook, X, TikTok, Instagram
Boston’s Black Market Nubian faces April 30 closure as community mobilizes to save cultural hub
Man charged in March crash that killed beloved New Jersey mother
Ashlee Jenae’s father launches GoFundMe to help family bury late influencer
Pregnant rapper and nursing student Qualeisha “Siditty” Barnes fatally shot in Atlanta
Kyren Lacy’s parents file wrongful death lawsuit against Louisiana State Police
Shaquille O’Neal pays for funeral costs for 12‑year‑old Jada West, Georgia officials say
New Jersey police reach $4 million settlement with children of woman killed by ex-husband, a former police officer
Asbury Park High School: Crossover event esports and history with Tina Watson
Jury awards California woman $15 million after supervisor called her n-word
GoFundMe launched for Cleveland deacon recovering after brutal attack outside church
OWN greenlights first-ever ‘Belle Collective’ spinoff Belle Collective: Birmingham
Hazel Scott’s legacy returns to Harlem in free outdoor film screening
Olympic Gymnast Frederick Richard sets world record, raises $50K for Ugandan youth
Renee Ferguson, trailblazing investigative journalist, dies at 75
“AfroPoP Digital Shorts” returns to the land with “Sweet Samara,” climate and abolitionist film
-
Crime & Justice2 weeks agoGoFundMe launched for Cleveland deacon recovering after brutal attack outside church
-
Crime & Justice2 weeks agoKansas City woman shot five times during Uber ride
-
Community1 week agoDallas barber creates sensory‑friendly haircut experiences for neurodivergent children
-
Community1 week agoGoFundMe launched for family of 7‑month‑old girl killed in Brooklyn shooting
-
Social Justice2 weeks agoWashington D.C. Airbnb squatter sues homeowner for $500,000
-
Crime & Justice2 weeks agoFlorida Vice Mayor found slain at home was sister of Parkland survivor who died by suicide
-
In Memoriam2 weeks agoDee Freeman, veteran actress known for The Young and the Restless and Sistas, dies at 66
-
Community1 week agoArkansas mother fights for her life as she awaits rare dual organ transplant
-
Culture2 weeks agoOWN to premiere “One Golden Summer”, an award-winning film about a Chicago little league team’s rise and fall
-
Science2 weeks agoVictor Glover makes history on Artemis II as crew travels toward the moon