Demetrius Blackwell Guilty In Fatal 2015 Shooting Of NYPD Officer Brian Moore
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Jurors on Thursday convicted Demetrius Blackwell of all charges, including first-degree murder, in the 2015 shooting death of NYPD Officer Brian Moore.
As CBS2's Cindy Hsu reported, Moore was gunned down in 2015 while on patrol in Queens. The verdict for Blackwell came down just a day after the jury got the case.
The 25-year-old officer and his partner were in street clothes in an unmarked car when they attempted to stop Blackwell, who was suspected of carrying a handgun. Authorities say Blackwell opened fire, striking Moore in the head. He died two days later.
Back in 2015 in Queens Village, Officer Moore, 25 and his partner, Officer Erik Jansen, were on duty as plainclothes officers in an unmarked car searching for potential burglary suspects.
Prosecutors said the officers saw Blackwell "fiddling with something in his jeans" when they approached him. Blackwell opened fire on them, striking Moore in the head and just nearly missing Jansen.
Moore died two days later.
Moore's partner and others picked out Blackwell from a lineup, and prosecutors said Blackwell's DNA was found on the two bullets left in the cylinder.
EXTRAS: Photos From Moore's Funeral | Moore Family Statement | Bratton's Complete Eulogy
Blackwell was led out of the courtroom in handcuffs after the verdict. Moore's family remains in pain.
"There was justice done for Brian's killing, but it was a hole; a void that will never, ever be filled," said Moore's mother, Irene Moore, "and I hope that this never happens to anyone else ever again."
Moore is from Massapequa, and officers came from all over the country for his funeral.
The officer had been on the job for five years. Both his father and uncle had been sergeants with the NYPD, and his cousin is also on the force, CBS2's Ali Bauman reported.
Moore's father lashed out after the verdict, saying he had words he'd like to say to his son's killer.
"I'd like to walk up to him tell him, 'Yeah, I got something for you,' and put two bullets in his head," said Ray Moore.
In closing arguments following a three-week trial, prosecutors said Blackwell was more concerned about who won the Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao bout as Moore lay dying at a hospital.
"He's remorseless and just doesn't give a damn," Queens Assistant District Attorney Dan Saunders said.
Blackwell's attorney had argued that his client suffers from extreme emotional disturbance.
"He had a severe case of epilepsy that would cause him to fall into psychosis, and because of that, his brain was severely impaired," said defense attorney David Bart, "so he would react to a situation differently than your average citizen."
Saunders countered, saying there was "no loss of self-control."
"Officer Brian Moore was killed because he was a police officer," Saunders said.
Hundreds of police officers joined the Moore family at court Thursday in a show of support and compassion.
"We want to thank the Moore family for showing all New Yorkers how it is to survive through such tragedy," said Patrolmen's Benevolent Association President Pat Lynch.
"He had an innate talent a savvy that just comes to you," said NYPD Chief of Detectives Robert Boyce. "Not everyone's born with it, and Brian had it."
Police Commissioner James O'Neill also released a statement in the wake of the verdict:
"The murder of Detective Brian Moore reminds us of the extraordinary danger police officers face every day, protecting this City. Brian chose this profession to protect others, to do good, and to serve a cause greater than himself. He was murdered doing his job and in defense of every New Yorker. I thank the investigators and prosecutors who worked this case successfully with personal commitment and resolve. To the public who assisted us along the way: thank you for your help in ensuring that this career criminal is removed from the community and not given the opportunity to cause further harm."
Blackwell faces life in prison when he is sentenced next month.
Moore was posthumously promoted to Detective First-Grade. He'd been on the job for five years. In that time, he made 150 arrests and was awarded two medals for his duty.
(© Copyright 2017 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
