Killing of Akai Gurley

(Redirected from Shooting of Akai Gurley)

Akai Gurley, a 28-year-old black man, was fatally shot on November 20, 2014, in Brooklyn, New York City, United States, by a New York City Police Department officer. Two police officers, patrolling stairwells in the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA)'s Louis H. Pink Houses in East New York, Brooklyn, entered a pitch-dark, unlit stairwell. Officer Peter Liang, 27, had his firearm drawn. Gurley and his girlfriend entered the seventh-floor stairwell, fourteen steps below them. Liang fired his weapon; the shot ricocheted off a wall and fatally struck Gurley in the chest. A jury convicted Liang of manslaughter, which a court later reduced to criminally negligent homicide.

Killing of Akai Gurley
DateNovember 20, 2014 (2014-11-20)
Timec. 11:15 p.m. EST
LocationBrooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S.
ParticipantsKilled: Akai Gurley
Officers: Peter Liang and Shaun Landau
DeathsAkai Gurley
SuspectsPeter Liang
ChargesSecond-degree manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, second-degree assault, reckless endangerment, two counts of official misconduct
ConvictionsManslaughter (reduced at sentencing to criminally negligent homicide)
official misconduct
SentenceFive years of probation
Litigation$52 million lawsuit filed by Gurley's family against City of New York

On February 10, 2015, Liang was indicted by a grand jury (seven men and five women)[1] for manslaughter, assault, and other criminal charges (five counts total)[2] after members were shown footage of the unlit house and the 9mm Glock used in the shooting. In evaluating the possibility of equipment failure, they concluded that the 11.5-pound (51-newton) trigger could not have been fired unintentionally.[3] Liang turned himself in to authorities the next day and was arraigned. He was convicted of manslaughter and official misconduct on February 11, 2016, facing up to 15 years of prison time.

The conviction galvanized the Chinese community in New York City and across the United States.[4] Many felt that Liang (an Asian American) was being used as a scapegoat; Chinese Americans organized rallies in major cities via WeChat, Facebook, Twitter, and email.[5][6][7]

On March 28, 2016, prosecuting Brooklyn District Attorney Kenneth P. Thompson recommended to Kings County Supreme Court Judge Danny Chun that Liang serve only house arrest and community service for his sentence.[8] On April 19, 2016, Justice Chun sentenced Liang to five years probation and 800 hours community service after downgrading his manslaughter conviction to criminally negligent homicide.[9]

Background

edit

Akai Gurley

edit

Akai Kareem Gurley (c. 1986 – November 20, 2014) was born in Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, and moved to New York as a child.[10] He was not a resident of the Pink Houses but lived in nearby Brownsville with his domestic partner, her daughter, and their two-year-old daughter.[11][12]

Peter Liang

edit

Peter Liang (born c. 1987), a Hong Kong American, had less than 18 months of experience with the New York City Police Department (NYPD) at the time of the shooting. Liang emigrated to the United States as a child to Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, with his parents and grandmother; he also has a younger brother in college.[13] Liang had aspired to become a police officer since he was a child.[14]

Location

edit

in 2012, the Pink Houses were considered to be among the worst housing developments in New York.[15] Patrick Lynch, head of the Patrolmen's Benevolent Association of the City of New York, characterizes them as "among the most dangerous projects in the city" with dimly lit stairwells presenting a particular danger.[16] Police Commissioner Bill Bratton reported that there had been a spike in violence in the neighborhood over the preceding months with two homicides, two robberies, and four assaults.[16][17]

Two rookie police officers were assigned to the Pink Houses where they were conducting routine vertical patrols,[18][19] in which officers scan a public housing complex from the roof to the ground floor, stopping on each level.[17][20] The New York Daily News initiated rumors that their commander had instructed officers in the area not to carry out vertical patrols and instead to conduct exterior policing, and that the officers were texting their union representative as Gurley lay dying. The rumors were later debunked by the District Attorney's office but the Daily News did not issue a retraction or apology.[21] The NYPD's policy on whether an officer should keep a weapon holstered on such patrols is purposely vague and the decision as to when to take out a firearm is left to the discretion of the officers, according to Police Commissioner Bill Bratton.[22] The department also insists that officers place their fingers on the trigger only upon encountering extreme and particularized danger.[23] During trial testimony, officers testified that they were taught during academy training to have their guns out at times for fear of possible ambush or when they felt unsafe, and that they were specifically trained to take out their firearm as they approached a roof landing because it was considered dangerous. One officer testified that cops are taught to beware of a possible ambush on vertical patrols specifically. She also testified of being trained to have her firearm out when approaching a roof landing, finger alongside the trigger.[24] At the time the gun was discharged, the stairwell on the 8th floor was pitch black due to a broken light bulb.

Shooting

edit

Gurley was visiting his girlfriend and getting his hair braided before Thanksgiving. He entered the stairwell on the 7th floor, below Officers Landau and Liang. According to the prosecutors, seconds earlier, Liang, who is left-handed, pulled out his flashlight with his right hand and unholstered his 9mm Glock with his left. He then shoved open the stairwell door with his right shoulder with his gun pointed downwards. It appeared neither side knew the other was there and no words were exchanged, according to authorities.[25] Liang's gun discharged as he opened the door and the bullet ricocheted off the wall and struck Gurley once in the chest. He died within a few minutes.[26][27][28] Upon entering, Liang said he heard "a quick sound" to his left which startled him. He turned left and "it just went off when my whole body tensed up," Liang testified.[29] It was reported that Gurley actually ran after hearing the gunshot and collapsed on the fifth floor.[28]

Similarity to the shooting of Timothy Stansbury Jr.

edit

The fatal shooting of Gurley is notably[30][31] similar to the shooting death of Timothy Stansbury Jr. that occurred in January 2004. Officer Richard Neri killed Stansbury, 19, on a roof of the Louis Armstrong Houses in Brooklyn at about 1 am. He had approached the rooftop door with his gun drawn. A grand jury declined to indict Neri on charges of criminally negligent homicide, declaring the event an accident based on testimony that he had unintentionally fired. He asserted to have been startled when Stansbury pushed open a rooftop door in a place where drug dealing was rampant.[32][33][34]

Aftermath

edit

New York City Police Commissioner Bill Bratton declared the shooting to be an accident and that Gurley was a "total innocent."[35] Kings County District Attorney Kenneth P. Thompson said that he planned to impanel a grand jury to look into the shooting.[27][36] Media initially reported that both officers had text-messaged their union representatives before calling for help;[21] the claim was refuted as being false by both the police union and the District Attorney's office.[37][21]

When asked by reporters, Mayor Bill de Blasio did not take any sides in this issue, commenting that it was a "tragedy" to Gurley's family and requesting respect to the court's verdict. On the issue of NYPD patrolling, he considered it essential to public safety; he also characterized the notions of Liang being a scapegoat[16] and police brutality cases somehow being linked together to be non-existent.[38]

Gurley's funeral was conducted December 6 at the Brown Memorial Baptist Church in Fort Greene. Initially Al Sharpton offered to speak at the service but stepped down after a dispute within the family. Instead, activist Kevin Powell spoke at the service.[39][40] Gurley is interred at Rosedale Memorial Park in Linden, New Jersey.[10]

The continued conduct of vertical patrols has also been scrutinized in the wake of Gurley's shooting. Police Commissioner Bratton has said that the patrols are needed to reduce crime[17][20] and vertical patrols continue to be conducted in the Pink Houses.[41] On February 5, 2016, while Liang's trial was underway, two NYPD officers were wounded while conducting vertical patrols at a housing development in the Bronx.[42][43]

Reactions

edit

Chinese-Americans

edit
 
Protestors supporting Peter Liang on February 20, 2016, at Boston Common

More than 3,000 protesters, mostly of Chinese descent, showed up at New York City Hall in March 2015 to support Liang. Thousands walked across the Brooklyn Bridge to Manhattan's Chinatown in April to demand the charges to be dropped, as had been done in the past with white officers.[44][45]

Following his conviction, Asian Americans[which?] denounced the verdict at various gatherings across the country.[citation needed] There were differing opinions among Liang's supporters, with some feeling he should not have been prosecuted at all while others felt he should have been given a lesser charge—but all agreed the system needed to change.[46][47][48] State Assemblyman Ron Kim stated, "I do not believe true justice prevailed. Our system failed Gurley and it failed Liang. It pitted the unjust death of an innocent young black man against the unjust scapegoating of a young Asian police officer who was frightened, poorly trained, and who committed a terrible accident."[49]

Nearly 15,000 people protested on behalf of Liang in New York on February 20, 2016,[50] with similar turnouts across the United States that day. Many of Liang's supporters demanded that all killers should be prosecuted and that there should be no such thing as selective prosecution, scapegoating, or racism.[51][46] Joseph Lin, a real estate agent and activist, had helped to organize the protests due to feeling that Asian Americans had been too passive with no political voice, saying that, "If he's a black officer, I guarantee you Al Sharpton will come out. If he's Hispanic, all the congressmen will come out. But no, he's a Chinese, so no one is coming out."[48]

New York City Councilwoman Margaret Chin stated that she was satisfied with the grand jury indicting Liang but had also asked for leniency in Liang's sentencing.[52][53] Senators Mark Treyger and William Colton had always spoken on the behalf of Chinese.[54]

Black Lives Matter movement

edit

Gurley's death was one of several police killings of African Americans protested by the Black Lives Matter movement.[55] On December 27, 2014, 200 people marched in Brooklyn to protest the fatal shooting of Gurley on the same day as the funeral for slain NYPD Officer Rafael Ramos, who was a victim of the 2014 killings of NYPD officers, despite calls from the mayor to postpone demonstrations.[56][57][58]

edit

On February 10, 2015, Officer Liang was indicted by a grand jury for the shooting death of Gurley. He was charged with second-degree manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, second-degree assault, reckless endangerment, and two counts of official misconduct. Liang had a court date on February 11, and turned himself in that day.[59][60] He pleaded not guilty to the charges and was released without having to post bond, and suspended from his job without pay. His trial started on January 25, 2016. Liang was convicted of manslaughter and official misconduct on February 11, 2016, and he was immediately dismissed by the Police Department.[61][62] Liang faced anywhere from no jail to a maximum of 15 years of prison when sentenced in April.[26] His lawyers submitted an appeal to Judge Danny Chun while Liang remained free without bail.[49] Delores Jones-Brown, a professor at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, speculated to The Atlantic that Liang would have avoided conviction had he rendered aid to Gurley, while jurors later reported that the force required for them to pull the trigger on a police-issued pistol led them to believe that Liang's testimony was not completely true.[63]

Landau, the other officer involved, was not criminally implicated in Gurley's death.[58] However, he was fired from the NYPD the day after his partner was convicted. Landau, like Liang, was also within his two-year probationary period and his firing after the trial was permitted by his contract. Landau testified at the trial of his former partner under immunity from prosecution, describing Liang as having been in shock. He said that neither of them tried to revive Gurley, with both of them saying they did not feel qualified to perform CPR. According to Landau's words, his instructor at the police academy helped them to cheat on the exams.[64] Both radioed for an ambulance as Gurley's girlfriend performed CPR.[65][66]

On April 19, 2016, Justice Chun reduced Liang's conviction from manslaughter to criminally negligent homicide then sentenced Liang to five years of probation and 800 hours community service. He believed Liang would be much more productive spending time in community service.[67][9][68]

Arguments used in court

edit

Assistant District Attorney[69] Joseph Alexis claimed the killing wasn't an accident and that Liang chose to place the finger on the trigger. However, one of Liang's defense attorneys, Rae Koshetz, argued that what had happened was a tragedy, not a crime, because the bullet bounced off the wall and coincidentally hit Gurley.

Liang's attorneys, Robert Brown and Rae Koshetz, argued that Liang was in a state of shock after his gun went off and did not realize that he hit anyone.[70]

The defendants also argued that Liang pulling out his gun was still considered in line with protocol because the "lack of lighting is commonly perceived as a sign of criminal activity."[71] Furthermore, the light had been out of service for a number of days without repair. After Liang's bullet ricocheted off the wall and struck Gurley in the chest, the officers did not render CPR.[72]

Ending

edit

In August 2016, New York City reached an agreement with Gurley's family for $4.1 million, settling a lawsuit brought by Kimberley Ballinger, Akaila's mother. The New York Housing Authority paid $400,000 and Liang paid $25,000. The money went into a fund for Akaila, Gurley's then two-year-old daughter, who would have access after turning 18 with the court's approval.[73][74]

After the settlement of Liang's trial, about $260,000 of the money raised for Liang's defence was returned to the donors. About $325,000 was given to Liang's family and $80,000 would be used for Chinese communities.[75]

Media coverage

edit

The incident received national and international coverage, in part due to the recent police shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, and killing of Eric Garner in Staten Island.[76][77]

The New York City Police Department's practice of vertical patrols was also criticized.[78][79] The Village Voice described the incident as part of a year of public relations disasters for the NYPD.[80] Other coverage has focused on the maintenance and public safety issues that led to the death.[81][82][83]

The incident is the subject of the 2020 feature documentary Down a Dark Stairwell.[84]

A Shot Through the Wall, a 2021 independent film, was based on the incident.

Other influence

edit

On February 12, 2016, Gurley's family demanded the NYPD permanently end all vertical patrols. They requested Landau be fired from the department and for the city to invest in programs like affordable housing, community centers, and after-school programs, instead of hiring more NYPD officers.[38]

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ "Former NYPD Cop Peter Liang's Guilty Verdict Leaves a Community Divided". NBC News. Retrieved May 10, 2017.
  2. ^ Phippen, J. Weston. "A Guilty Verdict in the Akai Gurly Case". The Atlantic. Retrieved May 10, 2017.
  3. ^ Saul, Emily; Fears, Danika (January 26, 2016). "Liang had 'thousand-yard stare' after staircase shooting, fellow cop testifies". New York Post. Retrieved May 10, 2017.
  4. ^ Kang, Jay Caspian (February 23, 2016). "How Should Asian-Americans Feel About the Peter Liang Protests?". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
  5. ^ Makinen, Julie (February 24, 2016). "Chinese social media platform plays a role in U.S. rallies for NYPD officer". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved April 23, 2017.
  6. ^ "Former NYPD Cop Peter Liang's Guilty Verdict Leaves a Community Divided". NBC News. Retrieved April 23, 2017.
  7. ^ Phippen, J. Weston (March 3, 2016). "Why Was Officer Peter Liang Convicted?". The Atlantic. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
  8. ^ Kapp, Trevor. "Peter Liang To Be Sentenced Tuesday for Manslaughter Conviction". DNAinfo.com. Archived from the original on May 7, 2016. Retrieved April 19, 2016.
  9. ^ a b Saul, Emily (April 19, 2016). "NYPD cop Peter Liang gets community service for killing Akai Gurley". New York Post. Retrieved April 19, 2016.
  10. ^ a b Akai Kareem Gurley's funeral service program, December 6, 2014, Brown Memorial Baptist Church, Brooklyn
  11. ^ "Bratton: Fatal Police-Involved Shooting of Unarmed Man at Brooklyn Housing Complex 'Unfortunate Tragedy'". CBS New York. November 21, 2014. Retrieved April 11, 2015.
  12. ^ Saul, Josh (November 21, 2014). "Man killed by NYPD rookie planned to surprise mom in Florida". New York Post. Retrieved April 11, 2015.
  13. ^ "Residents of Brooklyn Housing Project Stay Wary After Officer Is Indicted". The New York Times. February 12, 2015. Retrieved May 30, 2016.
  14. ^ "他真的很好 鄰居為梁彼得叫屈". World Journal 世界日报. February 12, 2015. Archived from the original on February 21, 2015.
  15. ^ Mark Jacobson (September 9, 2012). "The Land That Time and Money Forgot". New York. Retrieved April 25, 2015.
  16. ^ a b Ben Feuerherd; Lorena Mongelli; Sophia Rosenbaum (November 22, 2014). "Living in fear at the dark & deadly hellhole houses". New York Post. Retrieved April 11, 2015.
  17. ^ a b c Christopher Mathias (December 10, 2014). "Akai Gurley's Death Shines Harsh Light On Vertical Patrols In Public Housing". The Huffington Post. Retrieved April 11, 2015.
  18. ^ Fuchs, Chris (February 8, 2016). "In Tears On Stand, NYPD Cop Recalls Fatal Shooting of Akai Gurley". NBC News. Retrieved February 22, 2016.
  19. ^ Nir, Sarah (February 8, 2016). "Officer Peter Liang, on Stand, Breaks Down as He Recalls Brooklyn Killing". The New York Times. Retrieved February 24, 2016.
  20. ^ a b "Akai Gurley, Unarmed Man, Shot By NYPD". Huffington Post. November 22, 2014.
  21. ^ a b c "Here's What It'd Take To Convict The NYPD Cop Who Killed Akai Gurley". Huffington Post. February 12, 2015.
  22. ^ "Rookie cops often assigned to dangerous 'vertical patrols'". New York Post. November 22, 2014.
  23. ^ "Tragic justice served in manslaughter conviction of NYPD Officer Peter Liang for Akai Gurley's killing". NY Daily News. February 12, 2016.
  24. ^ "Stairwell shooting cop trained to have gun drawn: fellow officers". New York Post. February 12, 2015.
  25. ^ "NYPD Officer Pleads Not Guilty in Shooting Death of Unarmed Man". The Wall Street Journal. February 11, 2015.
  26. ^ a b Italiano, Laura (February 14, 2016). "Liang's appeal to focus on jurors handling his gun". New York Post. Retrieved February 17, 2016.
  27. ^ a b Izadi, Elahe; Holley, Peter (November 21, 2014). "Officer's Errant Shot Kills Unarmed Brooklyn Man". New York Times Post. Retrieved November 26, 2014.
  28. ^ a b "Panicked rookie NYPD officer fatally shoots unarmed 28-year-old man in Brooklyn's Pink Houses project". NEW YORK DAILY NEWS. November 21, 2014.
  29. ^ "NYPD officer breaks down during testimony about Akai Gurley shooting". the Guardian. February 8, 2016.
  30. ^ "Lupica: Shooting of Akai Gurley doesn't make East New York into Ferguson, or officer into a criminal". New York Daily News. November 23, 2014.
  31. ^ Pizarro, Max (February 21, 2016). "In Princeton, Chinese Protesters Charge NYPD with Scapegoating Officer Liang". PolitickerNJ. Retrieved February 21, 2016.
  32. ^ "Officer's Errant Shot Kills Unarmed Brooklyn Man". New York Times. November 21, 2014.
  33. ^ Levitt, Leonard (January 18, 2016). "Liang case underlines issue of race in NYC". AM New York. Retrieved February 17, 2016.
  34. ^ Koo, George (February 15, 2016). "Peter Liang is unlucky to be an Asian New York cop". Asia Times. Archived from the original on October 29, 2020. Retrieved February 21, 2016.
  35. ^ "Officer's Errant Shot Kills Unarmed Brooklyn Man". NY Times. November 22, 2014.
  36. ^ Clifford, Stephanie (December 9, 2014). "A Police Killing Puts Heavy Expectations on a Prosecutor". NY Times.
  37. ^ "Grand Jury To Hear Case Of Unarmed Man Shot By New York Cop In Stairwell". BuzzFeed News. December 5, 2014.
  38. ^ a b "De Blasio doubts Liang conviction will have chilling effect on police". Politico PRO. Retrieved April 21, 2017.
  39. ^ "Relatives Mourn Akai Gurley, An Innocent Man Killed By The NYPD". Gothamist. December 7, 2014. Archived from the original on May 5, 2015.
  40. ^ "Memorial for Akai Gurley, Unarmed Man Shot by NYPD, Set for Today". The Village Voice. December 5, 2014. Archived from the original on December 9, 2014.
  41. ^ Rivlin-Nadler, Max (February 4, 2016). "Residents See Little Change Since Cop Killed Innocent Man In Darkened Stairwell". Gothamist. Archived from the original on March 8, 2016. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
  42. ^ Georgantopoulos, Mary Ann (February 5, 2016). "Dangerous NYPD Assignment In The Spotlight At Officer's Trial After Bronx Shooting". Buzzfeed. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
  43. ^ Baker, Al (February 5, 2016). "Shootings in Public Housing Project Highlight Risks of Stairwell Patrols". The New York Times. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
  44. ^ Qian, Siyu. "Is Police Officer Peter Liang a Scapegoat?". NY City Lens. Archived from the original on March 2, 2016. Retrieved February 17, 2016.
  45. ^ "Thousands protest prosecution of NYPD officer". News 12. Archived from the original on March 8, 2016. Retrieved February 17, 2016.
  46. ^ a b "Thousands Rally in Boston Common Calling for Equal Justice for Officer Peter Liang". February 20, 2016.
  47. ^ Fuchs, Chris (March 30, 2015). "National Rallies Planned for Indicted NYPD Officer Peter Liang". NBC News. Retrieved February 17, 2016.
  48. ^ a b Nir, Sarah (February 12, 2016). "Many Asians Express Dismay and Frustration After Liang Verdict". The New York Times. Retrieved February 17, 2016.
  49. ^ a b Fuchs, Chris (February 13, 2016). "Former NYPD Cop Peter Liang's Guilty Verdict Leaves a Community Divided". NBC News. Retrieved February 17, 2016.
  50. ^ Bain, Eileen AJ; Connelly, Jennifer (February 20, 2016). "10,000 protesters rallying in support of ex-cop Peter Liang". New York Post. Retrieved February 20, 2016.
  51. ^ Place, Nathan (February 20, 2016). "Supporters rally behind convicted cop Peter Liang". NY Daily News. Retrieved May 30, 2016.
  52. ^ "Protests planned after NYPD officer Liang found guilty". Archived from the original on February 22, 2016. Retrieved February 22, 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  53. ^ Chris Fuchs (February 11, 2015). "Race 'Doesn't Matter': Reactions to Officer Liang's Indictment". NBC News.
  54. ^ "【最愤怒的沉默】梁彼得被定罪后 梁妈妈说的一句话感动全场". Archived from the original on July 13, 2019.
  55. ^ Prupis, Nadia. "NYPD Officer Indicted in Shooting of Akai Gurley: Reports". Common Dreams NewsCenter. Retrieved May 26, 2015.
  56. ^ "Watch Brooklyn Protesters Demand Justice for Akai Gurley". Https. Archived from the original on January 4, 2015. Retrieved January 4, 2015.
  57. ^ "NY police shooting that has divided Chinese Americans will be tried by jury". The Washington Post.
  58. ^ a b "N.Y. Police Shooting Case Divides City's Asian-Americans". NPR.org.
  59. ^ "NYPD Officer Peter Liang Indicted In Fatal Shooting Of Akai Gurley". Newyork.cbslocal.com. February 10, 2015. Retrieved February 11, 2015.
  60. ^ "Officer Indicted in Shooting Death of Akai Gurley". NY1. February 10, 2015.
  61. ^ Southall, Ashley (February 12, 2016). "Police Department Fires Partner of Ex-Officer Peter Liang". The New York Times. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
  62. ^ Carrega-Woodby, Christina; Marzulli, John; Brown Stephen Rex (February 11, 2016). "NYPD Officer Peter Liang found guilty of second-degree manslaughter in fatal shooting of Akai Gurley in Brooklyn housing development". New York Daily News. Retrieved February 11, 2016.
  63. ^ Phippen, J. Weston (March 3, 2016). "Why Was Officer Peter Liang Convicted?". The Atlantic. Retrieved April 10, 2016.
  64. ^ Phippen, J. Weston. "A Guilty Verdict in the Akai Gurly Case". The Atlantic. Retrieved April 20, 2017.
  65. ^ "NYPD OFFICER TESTIFIES AT MANSLAUGHTER TRIAL OF HIS FORMER PARTNER, PETER LIANG". February 4, 2016.
  66. ^ Southall, Ashley (February 12, 2016). "Police department fires partner of ex-officer Peter Liang". The New York Times.
  67. ^ Phippen, J. Weston (April 19, 2016). "Sentencing for Peter Liang". The Atlantic. The Atlantic Monthly Group. Archived from the original on February 24, 2021. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
  68. ^ "Officer Guilty of Negligence in '03 Killing". The New York Times. October 22, 2005.
  69. ^ "Prosecutor rips Peter Liang's defense in Akai Gurley killing". NY Daily News. Retrieved May 11, 2017.
  70. ^ "Former NYPD Cop Peter Liang's Guilty Verdict Leaves a Community Divided". NBC News. Retrieved May 11, 2017.
  71. ^ "Why was Peter Liang one of so few cops convicted for killing an unarmed man?". Mother Jones. Retrieved May 11, 2017.
  72. ^ Phippen, J. Weston. "Why Was Officer Peter Liang Convicted?". The Atlantic. Retrieved May 11, 2017.
  73. ^ "New York City, Peter Liang to Pay Over $4 Million Settlement to Family of Akai Gurley". NBC News. Retrieved May 4, 2017.
  74. ^ "As civil suit dismissed, Peter Liang expected to not appeal conviction". NBC News. Retrieved May 4, 2017.
  75. ^ "– Where Do Funds Raised for Peter Liang Go?". voicesofny.org. Archived from the original on August 4, 2018. Retrieved May 4, 2017.
  76. ^ "A Look at Recent Police Killings Cited in Protests". ABC News. December 22, 2014.
  77. ^ Nessen, Stephen (December 5, 2014). "Like Michael Brown And Eric Garner, Akai Gurley's Death Inspires Anger". NPR.
  78. ^ "Lessons From a Stairwell Shooting". NY Times. December 2, 2014.
  79. ^ Mathias, Christopher (December 10, 2014). "Akai Gurley's Death Shines Harsh Light On Vertical Patrols In Public Housing". Huffington Post.
  80. ^ Toth, Kathie (December 19, 2014). "The Year in NYPD Public Relations Disasters". The Village Voice. Archived from the original on December 20, 2014.
  81. ^ Floyd, Gregory (December 19, 2014). "Let's take the longer view on NYCHA's safety". New York Amsterdam News.
  82. ^ Shalev, Asaf (December 18, 2014). "After Akai Gurley: The Connection Between Maintenance and Safety in Public Housing". The Brooklyn Ink. Archived from the original on December 20, 2014. Retrieved December 20, 2014.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  83. ^ "I-Team: Darkened Stairwell Not the Only Problem at Police Shooting Building". NBC New York. December 16, 2014.
  84. ^ Wilkinson, Alissa (March 14, 2020). "18 provocative documentaries to look for this year". Vox.