Former New York City police officer Peter Liang faces sentencing Tuesday in the fatal shooting of an unarmed black man that sparked emotional protests from both sides of the controversial case.
(USAToday)- Liang, 28, was on patrol in a housing project in November 2014 when he said he drew and accidentally fired his weapon in a stairwell. Akai Gurley, 28, was killed by the ricocheting bullet.
Liang was convicted of manslaughter in February and subsequently fired. Judge Danny Chun can sentence Liang to up to 15 years in jail.
The conviction prompted a protest in Brooklyn that drew thousands of his supporters, many of them Chinese American. Similar protests were held San Francisco and elsewhere, pressing a complaint that white officers seldom are convicted or even tried in shooting cases.
Last month, Brooklyn prosecutor Ken Thompson announced he would recommend six months of home confinement, five years probation and 500 hours of community service.
“His incarceration is not necessary to protect the public, and due to the unique circumstances of this case, a prison sentence is not warranted,” Thompson said, adding that “There are no winners here.”