Thread: Police Officer Is Indicted in Shooting

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/05/nyregion/05cop.html

[quote]By TIMOTHY WILLIAMS
Published: December 5, 2007

A Bronx grand jury indicted an off-duty police officer on a first-degree manslaughter charge yesterday in the fatal shooting of an unarmed building porter after a car accident in May, according to a person with direct knowledge of the case.

The indictment against the officer, Raphael Lora, 37, is to be unsealed today in State Supreme Court.

Late on May 18, Officer Lora fired five shots at Fermin Arzu, 41, after Mr. Arzu crashed the minivan he was driving into a parked car in the Longwood section of the Bronx, where both men lived.

Officer Lora told investigators that he shot Mr. Arzu only after he was pulled by the vehicle when Mr. Arzu tried to drive away from the scene of the accident. Mr. Arzu’s blood-alcohol level was higher than the legal driving limit of 0.08 percent at the time of the shooting, his lawyer said.

The Bronx district attorney’s office announced the indictment, but did not specify the charges. The person who reported the manslaughter charge spoke on the condition of anonymity because it is a violation of the law to discuss grand jury proceedings, which are secret.

First-degree manslaughter carries a maximum penalty of 10 to 25 years.

Sanford A. Rubenstein, one of the lawyers representing the Arzu family, said the indictment was only a first step.

“This is the beginning of the journey for justice for the Arzu family,â€

http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-93075.html

Duplicate post.