Crime

NYPD Officer Found Guilty In Shooting Death Of Unarmed Man

Liang says he was patrolling a housing project with his gun drawn when he was surprised by a noise and accidentally fired.

NYPD Officer Found Guilty In Shooting Death Of Unarmed Man
Getty Images / Byron Smith
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New York City police Officer Peter Liang has been found guilty of manslaughter and official misconduct stemming from the 2014 fatal shooting of Akai Gurley. 

Liang says he was patrolling a housing project with his gun drawn when he was surprised by a noise and accidentally fired. "I was panicking. I was in shock, in disbelief that someone was hit," Liang testified.

Gurley's family never really bought the "accidental death" defense. "My child was murdered in cold blood by an inexperienced rookie police officer," Gurley's mother, Sylvia Palmer, told CNN

Liang had been on the force for only 18 months when the shooting took place. The case hit national headlines as questions of alleged police misconduct all over the country continued to rise. 

Liang's sentencing is set for April. 

This video includes images from Getty Images and videos from WABC and WCBS.