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Cop-Killer Convicted in Slaying of NYPD Officer...
Accused Cop-Killer Convicted in Slaying of NYPD Officer
November 10, 2017 - A jury convicted a Demetrius Blackwell Thursday of first-degree murder in the fatal shooting of NYPD Police Officer Brian Moore.
See also:
Suspect Sentenced in Shooting of Florida Deputy
November 10, 2017 - Andrew Coffee Jr. snapped at Indian River County Deputy Christopher Lester in court before being sentenced to life in prison on Thursday.
Accused Cop-Killer Convicted in Slaying of NYPD Officer
November 10, 2017 - A jury convicted a Demetrius Blackwell Thursday of first-degree murder in the fatal shooting of NYPD Police Officer Brian Moore.
A jury convicted a Queens man Thursday of first-degree murder in the fatal shooting of Brian Moore, an NYPD officer from Long Island. The Queens district attorney’s office said the jury deliberated for two hours over two days before convicting Demetrius Blackwell in the death of Moore, 25, of Plainedge, who died two days after he was shot in the head on May 2, 2015. The panel of five men and seven women also found Blackwell, 37, guilty of first-degree attempted murder for shooting at Moore’s partner, Officer Erik Jansen, who was not hurt, and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon. Blackwell faces a maximum of life in prison without parole. Sentencing is set for Dec. 12.
Many of Moore’s brothers and sisters in blue packed the courtroom as the verdict was read, while a group of court officers stood around Blackwell. Moore’s father, Raymond Moore, a retired NYPD detective sergeant, nodded his head in approval as the first-degree murder verdict was announced. Blackwell said, “I love you,” to someone in the courtroom as a court officer escorted him out. During the trial, Queens prosecutors said Moore was shot after he and Jansen, who were working in the anti-crime unit, became suspicious of Blackwell when they spotted him walking on a Queens Village street.
The jury of five men and seven women found Demetrius Blackwell guilty of killing NYPD Officer Brian Moore and wounding his partner, Officer Erik Jansen in 2015.
The plainclothes officers followed Blackwell briefly in their unmarked car, then pulled up to him. Moore identified himself as a police officer and showed his badge, which was hanging around his neck, according to Jansen. Jansen testified that Moore asked Blackwell if he “got something” on him. Jansen told jurors that Blackwell responded: “Yeah. I got something.” Within seconds, the officer said, Blackwell pulled out a handgun and fired at Moore twice, striking him once in the head. The second bullet hit the police car and a fragment of the bullet struck Moore in the face. Jansen said a third round was fired at him, but missed him.
After the verdict, Moore’s parents spoke at a news conference on the courthouse steps. “At the end of the day I did lose my son,” said his mother, Irene Moore. “At the end of the day there was justice done for Brian’s killing, but it is a hole, and it is a void that will never, ever be filled. And, I hope that this never happens to anyone else.” Raymond Moore called the outcome “a good verdict,” but added: “Brian is still not going to be there in my house when I get home.” The grieving father said if he could speak to Blackwell, he’d use the same phrase that Blackwell reportedly said to his son before firing the fatal shot. “I’d like to walk up to him and tell him, ‘Yeah. I got something’ for you, and put two bullets in his head,” he said.
Blackwell’s attorney, David Bart of Flushing, had told jurors that his client was paranoid and was not in control of his actions at the time of the shooting. The jury had considered whether Blackwell was acting under extreme emotional distress at the time of the shooting, but rejected that defense. Queens Executive Assistant District Attorney Daniel Saunders said the case was complicated and included dense testimony, but judging from the speed of the verdict, he said, jurors understood it. “Their resounding verdict, and embracing the testimony, especially of the surviving partner, Jansen, sends a message, I hope, that there are severe consequences to the murder of a New York City police officer,” Saunders said. “And hopefully every police officer in the city of New York is a little safer by virtue of their verdict today.
Accused Cop-Killer Convicted in Slaying of NYPD Officer
See also:
Suspect Sentenced in Shooting of Florida Deputy
November 10, 2017 - Andrew Coffee Jr. snapped at Indian River County Deputy Christopher Lester in court before being sentenced to life in prison on Thursday.
A hostile criminal defendant surprised a packed courtroom when the Gifford man snapped at the Indian River County sheriff’s deputy whom he was convicted of trying to gun down, then cursed at a prosecutor before a judge ordered the habitual offender to spend the rest of his life in prison. In a tense courtroom Thursday, Andrew Coffee Jr., 54, also received an additional sentence of 30 years for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He had been convicted by a jury on Nov. 1 of attempted first-degree murder of a law enforcement office.
Coffee delivered his outbursts after Deputy Christopher Lester took the witness stand to testify that Coffee deserved the maximum sentence for attempting to kill him during a post-midnight traffic stop in December 2015. “I was nice, I was polite,” Lester testified, directing his comments at Coffee while recounting the traffic stop on Dec. 18, 2015, in which Coffee punched Lester to the ground and began emptying his .357-caliber magnum revolver at the deputy. “I fought back and I won,” Lester testified.
Andrew Coffee Jr., left, and Deputy Christopher Lester
“You shot back!” Coffee shouted at Lester, suggesting that both men were equally responsible for the shootout that resulted. “You’re showing your true colors,” Lester said softly from the witness stand. Deputy Chris Lester pulled over Andrew Coffee Jr. in December 2015. Dash cam video showed what happened next and what lead to Coffee being charged with attempted murder. Chief Assistant State Attorney Thomas Bakkedahl asked Circuit Judge Cynthia L. Cox to impose the maximum penalty because of Coffee’s long history of criminal convictions, including a previous 20-year sentence he recently served for attempted murder. “He has absolutely no business being out among us,” Bakkedahl told the court, pointing out Coffee had been out of prison just 18 months before he attacked Lester.
As Bakkedahl was addressing the court, Coffee cursed loudly at Bakkedahl. Two female friends of Coffee testified on his behalf, telling the court that Coffee is “a good person.” “His family, they love him,” Natasha Snell testified. But Lester countered by testifying: “You may love your family, but you don’t care about anyone else. You are a danger to everybody else.” After Coffee’s friends testified, Bakkedahl asked Cox for “enhanced” penalties for his latest convictions, which the judge can grant because of prior convictions. Bakkedahl cited convictions in 1988 and 1993 for possession and sale of cocaine, a 1986 conviction for aggravated assault and a 1994 conviction for attempted first-degree murder with a firearm. “Are you aware the maximum penalty I can impose on you as a habitual offender is life in prison?” Cox asked Coffee. “Yes,” Coffee replied. Both Lester and Coffee suffered gunshot wounds during their shootout, making Lester the first sheriff’s deputy shot in the line of duty since 1986.
Suspect Sentenced in Shooting of Florida Deputy