An NYPD officer accused of killing an unarmed Brooklyn man appeared in court Thursday. His supporters say he should not be facing charges, a claim that's outraging the family of the man he shot.
Family members of Akai Gurley were angry Thursday morning with supporters of Officer Peter Liang.
"How dare you. How dare you," one Gurley supporter said. "What if it was your loved one. How would you feel?"
Liang is charged with manslaughter and other counts for shooting and killing Gurley last November inside a dark staircase. After his brief court appearance in Brooklyn, his supporters said the police officer should not be facing charges.
"What we're saying is, there was no intention, in a sense that there was no confrontation, there was no exchange of words, there was no gun pointed at Akai Gurley. It was totally an accident," said Phil Gim, a supporter of Officer Peter Liang.
Liang and his partner were both rookies patrolling the Pink Houses when they entered a staircase that didn't have lights. Liang had his gun out, and it went off. A bullet hit Gurley as he innocently entered the staircase on the floor below.
Various groups showed up to support Gurley's family.
"The fact that Officer Peter Liang is Chinese, his race should not matter. All officers who kill people need to be held accountable. They need to know that there are consequences for their actions," said Esther Wang of CAAAV Organizing Asian Communities.
"Someone has to pay for what happened to Akai Gurley," said Shavon Ford, an Akai Gurley supporter. "And we just don't me restitution to the family in terms of payment. We also want Peter Liang to be convicted on several charges and also to serve jail time."
The mother of Gurley's daughter, Kimberly Ballinger, said the little girl often asks about her father.
"She's going to be three in July, and her dad's not going to be here," Ballinger said. "So yes, it's very difficult."
The officer's defense lawyers have asked the judge to toss out the case. The Brooklyn DA's office said it stands by the indictment of Liang.
The officer is scheduled to be back in court next month.