Grand Jury Convened in Case of NY Cop Accidentally Shooting Unarmed Black Man

Evocative of recent cases in the national spotlight, the case of another unarmed black man who died after an encounter with the NYPD is going before a grand jury.

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.

The minutes following that moment are of some contention, as a New York Daily News report today says Liang was texting his union representative, and they did not call it in for several minutes.

Brooklyn District Attorney Ken Thompson called an investigation, and today his office confirmed there will be a grand jury hearing the case.

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Follow Josh Feldman on Twitter: @feldmaniac

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