BREAKING: NYPD Officer Who Killed Akai Gurley Sentenced to Community Service

The former NYPD officer who fatally shot an unarmed man in a stairwell in Brooklyn had his charges reduced from manslaughter to criminally negligent homicide prior to his sentencing this afternoon at a Brooklyn courthouse.

For those who need a refresher on the Akai Gurley case, here is what our own Josh Feldman wrote in when when a grand jury was called to convene in 2014:

Akai Gurley walked into an unlit stairwell as two police officers were patrolling. Officer Peter Liang had his weapon and a flashlight out as he walked up the unlit stairwell. Gurley heard them one floor up, he looked up, and Liang shot him. NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton said in a public statement that it was an accident.

This last February, Liang was indicted and later convicted of manslaughter. Today, his sentencing took place. He was given five years of probation and 800 hours of community service. Brooklyn District Attorney Kenneth Thompson said this, per CBS Local New York:

Because his incarceration is not necessary to protect the public, and due to the unique circumstances of this case, a prison sentence is not warranted.

So far, there have only been minor incidents following the announcement.

Some minor scrums between protesters and press after the Liang verdict, emotions are very raw. Police kept their distance throughout.

— Jamiles Lartey (@JamilesLartey) April 19, 2016

Protesters in favor of Liang being jailed and against it have been gathered outside the courthouse all day.

[image via Twitter]

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