Solved case · 2014
Also known as Murder of Akai Gurley · Akai Gurley's murder
The short answer
Akai Gurley, an unarmed 28-year-old Black man, was fatally shot in a dark stairwell of a Brooklyn public housing complex in 2014 by NYPD officer Peter Liang. Liang was convicted of manslaughter, later reduced to criminally negligent homicide, and sentenced to probation and community service.
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Suggest coverage for Killing of Akai GurleyAkai Kareem Gurley, a 28-year-old African American man born in Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, was fatally shot on November 20, 2014, in the stairwell of the Louis H. Pink Houses, a New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) development in East New York, Brooklyn. Gurley did not live in the complex; he was visiting his girlfriend to get his hair braided ahead of Thanksgiving.
According to prosecutors, NYPD officers Peter Liang and Shaun Landau, both rookies with less than 18 months of experience, were conducting a routine vertical patrol of the building's stairwells. Liang had his flashlight in his right hand and his 9mm Glock unholstered in his left as he pushed open a stairwell door on the eighth floor, which was pitch dark due to a broken light bulb. Gurley and his girlfriend had entered the stairwell on the seventh floor, fourteen steps below. Liang's gun discharged; the bullet ricocheted off a wall and struck Gurley once in the chest. Gurley ran and collapsed on the fifth floor, dying within minutes. Neither Liang nor Landau performed CPR, stating they did not feel qualified; Gurley's girlfriend performed CPR while the officers called for an ambulance.
On February 10, 2015, a grand jury indicted Liang on five counts, including second-degree manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, second-degree assault, reckless endangerment, and official misconduct. The grand jury concluded the gun's 11.5-pound trigger pull made an accidental discharge unlikely. Liang turned himself in the next day, pleaded not guilty, and was suspended without pay. His trial began January 25, 2016. On February 11, 2016, a jury convicted Liang of manslaughter and official misconduct; he was immediately dismissed from the NYPD. His partner, Landau, who testified under immunity and was not criminally charged, was fired the following day.
The conviction prompted large protests by Chinese American communities across the United States, with organizers arguing Liang was being scapegoated for broader problems in policing. Nearly 15,000 people protested on Liang's behalf in New York on February 20, 2016. The case was also cited within the Black Lives Matter movement as one of several police killings of Black Americans.
On March 28, 2016, Brooklyn District Attorney Kenneth P. Thompson recommended no jail time. On April 19, 2016, Justice Danny Chun of Kings County Supreme Court reduced Liang's conviction to criminally negligent homicide and sentenced him to five years of probation and 800 hours of community service.
In August 2016, New York City settled a lawsuit brought by Gurley's family and by Kimberley Ballinger, mother of Gurley's daughter Akaila, for $4.1 million; NYCHA paid $400,000 and Liang paid $25,000, with funds placed in trust for Akaila. The case drew comparisons to the 2004 shooting death of Timothy Stansbury Jr. by NYPD officer Richard Neri under similar circumstances, in which a grand jury declined to indict.
Timothy Stansbury Jr. was fatally shot by NYPD Officer Richard Neri in a similar rooftop-door shooting; a grand jury declined to indict Neri.
Akai Gurley was fatally shot by Officer Peter Liang in a dark stairwell at the Louis H. Pink Houses in East New York, Brooklyn.
Gurley's funeral was held at Brown Memorial Baptist Church in Fort Greene, Brooklyn.
About 200 people marched in Brooklyn to protest Gurley's fatal shooting.
A grand jury indicted Peter Liang on manslaughter, assault, reckless endangerment, and official misconduct charges.
Liang turned himself in, was arraigned, pleaded not guilty, and was suspended without pay.
More than 3,000 protesters, mostly Chinese American, rallied at New York City Hall in support of Liang.
Liang's criminal trial began.
Two NYPD officers were wounded while conducting vertical patrols at a Bronx housing development during Liang's trial.
A jury convicted Liang of manslaughter and official misconduct; he was dismissed from the NYPD.
Officer Shaun Landau, Liang's patrol partner, was fired by the NYPD.
Nearly 15,000 people protested in New York in support of Liang, with similar turnouts nationwide.
Brooklyn District Attorney Kenneth P. Thompson recommended house arrest and community service rather than prison for Liang.
Justice Danny Chun reduced Liang's conviction to criminally negligent homicide and sentenced him to five years probation and 800 hours community service.
New York City settled lawsuits with Gurley's family and Kimberley Ballinger for $4.1 million; NYCHA and Liang contributed additional payments.
Victims first. Every legal label is set from public records and court outcomes, not from the prose.
28-year-old man fatally shot in a Brooklyn public housing stairwell on November 20, 2014.[3]
NYPD officer convicted of manslaughter and official misconduct for shooting Gurley; conviction later reduced to criminally negligent homicide, sentenced to five years probation and 800 hours community service.[3]
From the record
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