Learn how your comment data is processed. A Shot Through The Wall, directed by Aimee Long, premiered at the Bentonville Film Festival in Arkansas in August and is now in post-production. Play it now! Former FBI special agent Peter Strzok, who drew notoriety for anti-Trump text messages he sent during an extramarital affair with FBI attorney Lisa Page while employed by the bureau, is now an. After hearing a noise, Liang, who was on a pitch-dark stairwell, accidentally fired his weapon. Overview. [66][67], 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. The case quickly spurred a division between Asian Americans. Inspector Richard Dee, executive officer of the NYPD Police Academy, explained to the I-team that they have trained over 800 field training officers. Unfolding in the dark stairwell of a Brooklyn housing project, the shooting inflamed the residents of New York City and thrust two marginalized communities together into the uneven criminal justice system. Reporting from New York Former New York Police Officer Peter Liang will not serve time behind bars for killing an innocent, unarmed black man in 2014 in a case that drew passionate. "Its just been really hard.. ", 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. This happened in 2014, the same year Gurley died, but Pantaleo wasnt even indicted, let alone convicted, despite a clearly stronger case and more outrageous wrongdoing. A jury found Liang guilty of manslaughter in February 2016 and was sentenced to 15 years in jail. 584 Forest Ave, Staten Island, NY 10310. Officials say officers are required to take a refresher course every two years, but they are not required to be recertified. Assistant District Attorney[70] Joseph Alexis claimed the killing wasn't an accident and that Liang chose to place the finger on the trigger. [73], 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. He was the father of a two-year-old girl. The conviction of Peter Liang, a Chinese-American officer who fatally shot unarmed black father Akai Gurley, has sparked complex racial tensions People protest on behalf of officer Peter. Advocates for police accountability are watching Liang's trial closely. Q SO-KO, a new space in a converted Nagoya warehouse, is marking its arrival with an enticing two-hander entitled Placeness. Akai Gurley, 28, an unarmed, African-American father of a. They see it as a counterpoint to cases in which grand juries declined to indict white police officers in the killings of unarmed black men, including Eric Garner in New York and Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri. We hope you consider making a contribution so we can continue to provide you with quality content that informs, educates and inspires the Asian community. That direction ended up playing the role of impartial observer. Americas. It was at that point, she knew she would have the material to make a 90 minute film. Im not saying that its OK for the White cops to get away. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. And back then, it made sense. We believe this is a fair resolution of a tragic matter, the spokesperson said in a statement. [59] However, he was fired from the NYPD the day after his partner was convicted. [44][45], Following his conviction, Asian Americans denounced the verdict at various gatherings across the country. "They are solely dedicated to mentor and train new recruits when they graduate from the police academy., Better training is welcomed by Patrolmen's Benevolent Association President Pat Lynch, who believes the Liang verdict will greatly impact the way officers do their jobs. The officer, Peter Liang, 28, was found guilty of manslaughter and official misconduct earlier this month in the shooting death of Akai Gurley, 28. Palmer dismissed Liang's claim the shooting was an accident, saying it was murder. [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. Actor Kenny Leu ( Midway) leads the movie A Shot Through the Wall, inspired by the story of former New York City police officer Peter Liang, who was convicted of criminally negligent homicide in 2016 after killing unarmed Akai Gurley at a Brooklyn housing project, when a bullet from Liang's gun . Its a truly monumental and unprecedented show of force, demonstrating a level of organization and mobilization that neither I nor anyone else thought the community was capable of achieving and man, it was a breathtakingly powerful force to behold. So, when Liang was convicted, it was a watershed for Asian Americans. They wanted to feel its weight in their . Gurley and his girlfriend entered the seventh-floor stairwell, fourteen steps below them. [76], The incident received national and international coverage, in part due to the recent police shootings of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, and Eric Garner in Staten Island. ,A. then guest-starred as Jordan Stewart in an episode of the action drama TV series "Baywatch" (1993), played Ben in the TV . Check out our new Instagram account. Instead she chose to highlight a bit more understanding of why people were taking certain positions.. [64], Landau, the other officer involved, was not criminally implicated in Gurley's death. His name is Shaun Landau. No decisions have been made and its a complicated chess board," Shechtman said. Peter Liang. Some 40 people gathered at the Pink Houses in Brooklyn Saturday to protest prosecutors plans to recommend no jail at the April 14 sentencing of ex-cop Peter Liang. Liang is not the only police officer who has taken an innocent life, and he should not be the only one held accountable for doing so. Liang, who is Chinese American, was convicted of second-degree manslaughter and one count of official misconduct for the shooting of Akai Gurley, a 28-year-old black man and father, during an. On the final day of the trial of NYPD officer Peter Liang, the prosecution argued that the rookie officer intentionally fired his weapon in the dark stairwell of East New York's Pink Houses,. Prosecutors say the bullet ricocheted off a wall and into Akai Gurley. [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. Kenneth Palmer, stepfather of Akai Gurley, speaks outside state Supreme Court in Brooklyn. Akai Gurley's daughter Akaila reacts on her mother Kimberly Ballinger's lap as reverend Al Sharpton speaks at the National Action Network in the Harlem borough of New York November 22, 2014. Photo: Peter Obi, Goodluck Okechukwu Source: Twitter. The late Brooklyn District Attorney Ken Thompson was not of sound mind during his final months in office, one of his top prosecutors told The Post on Tuesday. When he fired. ", Some protesters outside the courthouse showed support for Liang, holding signs that said "tragic accident. [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. Saying he beamed his flashlight and saw no one after firing, Liang acknowledged that he didn't immediately report the shot. Liang had already made inroads into the Chinese American community with her debut film in 2012, 9 Man, a vicious game of street volleyball unique to the Asian American community. A former print journalist and television producer, Liang made the jump to directing with 2014's 9-Man, about a streetball game played in Chinatowns throughout North Americaan intriguing fusion of sports doc and cultural history. See Alex Vincent Now She Played 'Ginny Weasley' In Harry Potter. 'The sadness, the emptiness in my heart, the emotional depression is still overwhelming. 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. He was negligent, and he killed an innocent man as a result. The NYC Law Department told NBC News that the city will pay $4.1 million, the Housing Authority $400,000, and former NYPD officer Peter Liang $25,000. Weve seen bureaucracy, corruption and lots of shirking of responsibility that have led to Peter Liang becoming a scapegoat, Jerry Lo, a protester from Long Island, told the National Public Radio. Police brutality is wrong its unconscionable but I also knew that to selectively prosecute a single Asian American cop would neither make up for ten years of injustice nor advance justice in the years ahead. In the past decade, 121 unarmed civilians were killed by NYPD officers. The other day, we endorsed Brooklyn DA Ken Thompsons call for ex-cop Peter Liang to do no prison time after his manslaughter conviction. My family consists of my father and mother, me, and my younger brother and sister. However, we still face many trials and tribulations in our industry, from figuring out the most sustainable business model for independent media companies to facing the current COVID-19 pandemic decimating advertising revenues across the board. [52][53][54] Senators Mark Treyger and William Colton had always spoken on the behalf of Chinese. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? A daily dose of Asian America's essential stories - in under 5 minutes, 2022 NextShark, Inc. All rights reserved.Terms & Conditions. I didnt really realize how difficult it would be to deal with, you know, folks that were experiencing trauma on different levels, she said. What supporters of Peter Liang are asking for is to grant Liang, like Darren Wilson and Daniel Pantaleo, the license to take black lives at will. I live in Hopkinton, which is known for being the starting point of the Boston Marathon. [46][47][48] State Assemblyman Ron Kim stated, "I do not believe true justice prevailed. She let each side have its say. "[72] Furthermore, the light had been out of service for a number of days without repair. He said that neither of them tried to revive Gurley, with both of them saying they did not feel qualified to perform CPR. Brown said Liang has four months to get together the $25,000 he must pay to Gurleys family. These Valuable Pennies Are Worth Thousands. A jury convicted Liang of second-degree manslaughter in February for Gurley's death. Farm Heroes Saga, the #4 Game on iTunes. Brown said Liang has up to nine months from April 19, the day Liang was sentenced in Brooklyn State Supreme Court, to file appeal arguments. It hurts,' Palmer said. [74][75], After the settlement of Liang's trial, about $260,000 of the money raised for Liang's defence was returned to the donors. He was convicted of manslaughter and official misconduct on February 11, 2016, facing up to 15 years of prison time. Before the conviction of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin for the death of George Floyd, there was Peter Liang. In 2014 a Hong Kong-born NYPD officer, Peter Liang, pulled his gun while on patrol, and accidentally shot dead African-American Akai Gurley His case inspired A Shot Through the Wall, about an. And back then, it made sense. First, that the death of Mr. Gurley was not intentional; this argument, given the. She set out to dial down the volume a little bit and not focus on the hot and testy stuff happening on the street. The protests largely centered around two claims. And now, instead of the hurried adrenaline of the fight against injustice, I find myself reconciling with the fact that for the past two months, I was defending a killer cop someone who brutalizes people of color, and enforces the twisted, racialized instrument of oppression we call a justice system. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. His trial started on January 25, 2016. Peter Obi has urged the Obidients to remain calm and persistent in insisting that the right thing be done at all times. Liang, a rookie officer at the time, and his partner were patrolling a darkened stairwell at a public housing project known as the Pink Houses when Liang heard a noise and fired his gun. We stand by that but were Police Commissioner Bill Bratton blasted Assemblyman Charles Barron on Friday, saying the state lawmaker practically committed a criminal act by threatening that violence is inevitable if stairwell-shoot cop Peter Liang The fact that he says hes sorry didnt bring Akai back, Kimberly Ballinger told her lawyer after meeting Thursday with Peter Liang the now-former cop who accidentally killed her Assemblyman Charles Barron on Thursday warned of riots, saying violence is inevitable if former NYPD officer Peter Liang gets the no-jail sentence recommended by Brooklyn District Attorney Ken Thompson. Peter Dutton is pledging to restore this tax break - and in doing so - taking a risk of his own - defending concessions for multi-millionaires while average families are doing it tough. She said the organizers had a real emotional stake in what happened and that spilled over to her film crew as well. never making any promises about the direction the film would take. Peter Liang is not the victim here just because the system did not cover up his mistakes. The rumors were later debunked by the District Attorney's office but the Daily News did not issue a retraction or apology. It offered a little bit of hope, because there was dialogue at that moment. Others, however, said Liang had to be held accountable for his actions because he took a life. 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. A New York City Law Department spokesperson told NBC News that the city will pay $4.1 million, the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) $400,000, and former New York Police Department Officer Peter Liang $25,000. His articles have appeared in Foreign Policy andthe Taipei Timesand in Chinese on ETToday.net, a popular Taiwanese news website. Some feel that Liang, as a member of the police force, deserves to be punished while others believe that he was only being used as a scapegoat since White officers in similar situations previously did not face charges. Even though Peter Liang will not end up serving jail time, the initial facts of this case have not changed; his conviction still stands, and so he remains the only NYPD officer to be convicted of killing an unarmed civilian in a decade, while 120 of his colleagues who did the exact same walk free. On February 11, 2016, a year and a day after his indictment, the jury found Peter Liang guilty of Manslaughter and Official Misconduct. [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]. On April 19th, a New York State Supreme Court in Brooklyn sentencedformer NYPD officer Peter Liang to five years of probation for the shooting of unarmed Black man Akai Gurley. We cant afford the luxury of sitting on the sidelines and just watching. "Peter Liang is one individual within a larger, corrupted criminal injustice system that doesn't value black nor brown lives," she said. All rights reserved, Long Island Driver Wanted for Running From Deadly 7-Car Pileup, Upper East Side Deli Killer Clad in Hazmat Suit Likely Serial Robber: Sources, Viral Kids' Star Ms. Rachel Is Taking a Break From Social Media After Backlash Over Co-Star Who Uses They/Them Pronouns, Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD), Flight Attendant Hit the Ceiling': 7 Hospitalized After Severe Turbulence Diverts Flight to Virginia, Woman Found Dead in NJ Motel Room: Law Enforcement, Check Your Change! The rookie NYPD Officer Peter Liang who gunned down an unarmed man in a poorly lit stairwell of public housing broke down on the stand Monday as he recalled the deadly shooting. A grand jury in 2015 indicted the fired New York police officer of five counts including manslaughter in the death of Akai Gurley, a Black man. While his police training included CPR, he said instructors had given cadets most of the answers to pass the required test, echoing a testimony his partner gave last week. Butler has brought her own civil lawsuit against the city, which was still pending. Brown said Liang is still completing his community service. [3] Liang turned himself in to authorities the next day and was arraigned. Following that hunch became Liang's second documentary, " Down a Dark Stairwell .". 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. But I just think that he [Liang] did something wrong and he should be held accountable for it, Ling told NPR. A new film based on a 2014 case involving an Asian American police officer who fatally shot an innocent African American man while patrolling New York City is currently in post-production. The judge has barred any mention of those shootings in Liang's trial. Tin Ling, from Brooklyn, felt Asians and Black people should unite for this purpose. [29] It was reported that Gurley actually ran after hearing the gunshot and collapsed on the fifth floor. 'Peter Liang walked away and left Akai to die in his own blood,' Gurley's mother, Sylvia Palmer, said outside court after hearing the officer give an account she felt showed no remorse. She tried to be straight forward and honest with everyone. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Americas. Liang faces manslaughter and other charges. Asian America New York City, Peter Liang to Pay Over $4 Million Settlement to Family of Akai Gurley The NYC Law Department told NBC News that the city will pay $4.1 million, the Housing. Thompson said in a statement today his office "vigorously prosecuted" Liang for manslaughter "because the evidence established that his conduct was criminal and the rule of law demanded that he be held accountable for his actions in taking Akai Gurleys life. We 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. 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", "New York City, Peter Liang to Pay Over $4 Million Settlement to Family of Akai Gurley", "As civil suit dismissed, Peter Liang expected to not appeal conviction", " Where Do Funds Raised for Peter Liang Go? [38], Gurley's funeral was conducted December 6 at the Brown Memorial Baptist Church in Fort Greene. Marc Fliedner, A former top prosecutor in Brooklyn plans to run for district attorney next year, The Post has learned. A former Brooklyn district attorney bureau chief now vying to become the boroughs next top prosecutor claimed Wednesday he had mounting evidence of corruption within the current DAs administration. One officer testified that cops are taught to beware of a possible ambush on vertical patrols specifically. [26][27][28] Upon entering, Liang said he heard "a quick sound" to his left which startled him. 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. He took a brief break from the witness stand to compose himself after turning away to hide his tears. Among those not convicted is Daniel Pantaleo, the cop who was caught on video killing Eric Garner, who posed no physical threat, by placing him in a clearly illegal chokehold for 19 seconds during which Garner stated that he couldnt breathe 11 times. Gurley's girlfriend, Melissa Butler, who was with Gurley in the stairwell the night of the shooting, cried as she was escorted out of the courtroom today by Assemblyman Charles Barron. The Brooklyn District Attorneys Office and former NYPD cop Peter Liang have both reportedly dropped their respective appeals of Liangs conviction in the 2014 fatal shooting of Akai Gurley in Bruce Springsteen is a megatalented rock star of limited intelligence and outsize cultural influence. [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 chargebut all agreed the system needed to change. Many of the protesters were pro-police, anti-Black Lives Matterand dismissive of Mr. Gurleys death basically co-opting the language of white supremacists. Feb 9, 2016 Officer Peter Liang Accused In Death Of Akai Gurley Breaks Down. Chinese Americans are arguing that it is unjust that Liang got convicted while the many white cops who have killed unarmed Black people before him walked free. About 18 months after graduating from the New York City Police Academy, Liang fired his gun from the eighth floor while on patrol. It appeared neither side knew the other was there and no words were exchanged, according to authorities. They are affiliated with Staten Island University Hospital. 'I just turned, and the gun went off,' Liang said, explaining that his body 'tensed up'. The documentary had its national television debut on PBS Independent Lens April 12 and remains available for streaming for free until May 11 and on the PBS video app. They played a supportive role in the movement, taking a step back to actively elevate Black organizers. He fired once and the bullet ricocheted, killing Akai Gurley, who was also in the stairwell. Peter Moreno, a former NYPD captain who used to train new officers, says one-on-one instruction with a more experienced officer is invaluable. And out of all of those killer cops, guess how many got convicted? In evaluating the possibility of equipment failure, they concluded that the 11.5-pound (51-newton) trigger could not have been fired unintentionally. Liang entered a dark stairwell while patrolling a public housing complex in New York when Gurley apparently startled him. Over the weekend, thousands gathered to protest the sentencing of Peter Liang, a former NYPD officer convicted of manslaughter for killing Akai Gurley, an unarmed black man. "Each officer handles that differently and needs different amounts of training and coaching.". March 3, 2016. The. The young man and father was killed. She also hired a diverse film crew and thought carefully about who should come with her to different events. Please consider interning, joining our staff, or submitting a story or making a contribution. Both Liang, who apologized to Ballinger for shooting Gurley, and the Brooklyn District Attorneys Office have filed separate notice of appeals in the criminal case. 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. The film has been translated into Chinese and will be coupled with educational material to encourage more dialogue. Peter Liang Caitlin C Murphy Background In May 2021, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force began recommending initiating colorectal cancer screening at age 45 (vs. 50) years. I mean, I think they felt like, the emotions were so volatile, and it was such a complicated, and, you know, complex story that this is sort of not the thing they wanted, highlighted down the line, Liang told AsAmNews. DR ELLIE CANNON: My breast has not got lumps but it's itchy, should I be concerned about cancer at age 72? [10], The continued conduct of vertical patrols has also been scrutinized in the wake of Gurley's shooting. He said . [60][61] He pleaded not guilty to the charges and was released without having to post bond, and suspended from his job without pay. She persevered because she saw this as an important moment in Asian American history which would remain pivotal years from now. Murdaugh is heckled as he leaves court, Judge makes damning comments before sentencing Murdaugh for life, Pavement where disabled woman gestured at cyclist before fatal crash, Insane moment river of rocks falls onto Malibu Canyon in CA, Fleet-footed cop chases an offender riding a scooter, Mark Gordon arrives at Crawley Police Station after remains found, Two Russian tanks annihilated with bombs by Ukrainian armed forces, Missing hiker buried under snow forces arm out to wave to helicopter. (Seth Wenig/AP) "Peter Liang was sworn. The conviction galvanized the Chinese community in New York City and across the United States. "I never expected this to happen," Butler said. Liang, who was convicted in February of manslaughter and official . But prosecutors and Gurley's loved ones say Liang handled his weapon recklessly and did nearly nothing to help Gurley after realizing the bullet had hit someone. He received his medical degree from . Melissa Butler, Akai Gurley's girlfriend, cries as she is escorted out of the courtroom by Assemblyman Charles Barron in New York, Tuesday, April 19, 2016. Alexander Leissle. But, this defense is paradoxical, because while Asian Americans are included in the power structure, they are never equal partners when something goes south, as it did in this case, the Asian American is the first to be blamed. If he's Hispanic, all the congressmen will come out. Still, building trust in her own community wasnt easy. The bullet ricocheted off a wall and pierced the chest of Gurley, who was walking 14 steps below. RELATED: Ex-Cop Peter Liang Apologizes to Akai Gurley's Domestic Partner in Meeting. It was also clear that the writers of Kung Fu were likewise running out of good plot . A day after Brooklyn District Attorney Ken Thompson recommended that former New York police officer Peter Liang not serve time in prison for the fatal shooting of Akai Gurley, an unarmed black. Unfortunately, in the case of Peter Liang, this power was poorly used indeed. Shortly after Liangs sentencing, people carrying Black Lives Matter signs gathered outside the courthouse, while those supporting him aggregated on the other side. She also testified of being trained to have her firearm out when approaching a roof landing, finger alongside the trigger.