. >> guilty in the killing akai gurley. an unarmed black man in a public housing stairwell. >> we just saw a verdict that has not come down in how long? >> live team coverage begins now. >> good evening, everyone. i'm sibila vargas. >> i'm chuck scarborough. tonight a jury of 12 men and women stood united in their verdict. >> they found officer liang guilty on the most serious charge of manslaughter. jurors also found the rookie guilty of official misconduct. >> news 4 had reporters inside and outside court talking to everyone involved in this contentious case. we begin with andrew in downtown brooklyn. >> reporter: the first time an nypd officer who was convicted for the death of a civilian in 11 years. i was inside the courtroom for verdict was read. ? >> what is your verdict? >> guilty. >> peter liang buried his head in his hands after hearing the jury convict him of manslaughter and official misconduct. he was just a rookie the night of november 20th, 2015 on patrol in the pink houses of brownsville. liang fired a shot

the bullet ricker ricocheted and hit akai gurley. he was more worried about keeping his job after the discharge. >> we don't believe the verdict was supported by the facts of the law. we plan on moving post verdict and we plan to appeal. >> reporter: the cases were not the focus of this conviction. >> this has nothing to do with ferguson or staten island or baltimore or cleveland or any other place. this has to do with who are we here in brooklyn. what we stand for? what we stand are shot and killed, through an active recklessness, we we have to hold whoever is responsible accountable. >> patrick link released a statement saying we are disappointed in the verdict and believe the jury came to the wrong verdict. this was a terrible and tragic accident. it was not a crime. this will have a chilling effect on police officers across the city. they say this is not a conviction of the nypd. police officers have some of the most difficult jobs on the planet. peter liang was sentenced on april 14. as i mentioned earlier, the manslaughter verd

the bullet, though, ricocheted and killed akai gurley, an unarmed man. his attorney spoke out about the verdict and so did gurley's family. take a listen. >> they did an awesome some presenting the evidence to the jury and the court. i just want to say thank you. >> i don't think that the facts of the law support a reckless manslaughter conviction. >> reporter: sentencing is set for mid-april. as for liang, he faces up to 15 years in prison. his lawyers want the charge dismissed or they'll appeal. you saw him walk out of the courtroom. he didn't say anything. but his attorney did. >> katherine creag, thank you. >>> pba president pat lynch said in part we are disappointed in the verdict and believe the jury the bad verdict will have a chilling effect on police officers across the city. >>> we're learning about a person who died in a house fire in queens. firefighters say 74-year-old mario, lost his life in that fire. they had responded to the flames at his two-story home in white stone on riverside drive at midnight. the cause is still under investigation.

the jury convicted him of the deateah of akai gurley. this happened on patrol in the pink houses. he fired a shot in the stairwell. said it was an accident. but the bullet ricocheted and killed gurley, an unarmed man. liang's attorney spoke out about the verdict and so did the family of gurley. first, gurley's mother. >> they did an awesome job, presented the evidence to the jury and the court. i just want to say thank you. the law support a reckless manslaughter conviction. >> reporter: his attorneys want to get the charges dismissed or they will appeal. as for jurors, we want to know what they thought of the you'll hear from at least one of them in the next half hour. back to you. >> kat, thank you. a police union released a statement saying, in part, we are very disappointed in the verdict and believe that the jury came to an absolutely wrong decision. they go on to say, this bad verdict will have a chilling effect on police officers across city. >>> now to the dangerous temperatures. this bitter cold this morning and really cold air, chris, just said, is not even here yet. "tod

the officer is charged with second-degree manslaughter for the november 2014 shooting of akai gurley that took place in a dark stairwell in the pink houses. gurley was struck in the chest by a bullet that ricochetted off a wall and was fired by liang. the jury asked for a readback of testimony about approaching the stairwell. the jury requested 911 recordings and testimony from gurley's girlfriend. the jurors are still at work here tonight. the judge plans to keep them until 5:30. if they do not come down with a verdict, they'll be back here tomorrow morning to continue deliberations. we're live in downtown brooklyn, back over to you. dari: thank you, liz. and wounded nypd officer cruz is back home. she was released from lincoln hospital to a course of cheers by officers. she had undergone surgery after being shot in the stomach by a gunman inside a bronx housing development last week. her partner is also wounded under the nose. he was treated and released the next day. the gunman killed himself after -- shortly after the shooting. steve: today wasn't too cold, all things considered.

a single shot that ricocheted off the wall and in to the chest and through the heart of akai gurley. the panic captured in a neighbor's 911 call. >> you said cops are there? >> he's not breathing. >> his willing to do cpr? tell her to breathe in his mouth. >> reporter: liang claims he fired his weapon by accident and is on trial here for manslaughter. did you see a threat, asked the prosecutor? no, landau answered. did you hear a threat? no. did you take your gun out of your holster, he asked? no. landau described his partner as distraught but admitted today that neither to revive akai gurley, that they radioed for an ambulance and stood by as gurley's girlfriend unsuccessfully performed cpr. you don't know how to perform cpr, the prosecutor asked. i didn't feel qualified to perform cpr. he told landau after the fired over it. did he say i'm fired or did he say i fired, asked liang's defense attorney? no, landau hit back, he said i'm fired. >> and the prosecution rested its case today. in an unusual move, officer liang is preparing to take the witness stand in his own defense. that d

liang did not intend to kill akai gurley. >> peter liang recklessly shot and killed akai gurley that night. he wasn't some young kid working in the most dangerous place -- in a dangerous place. he was a new york city police officer. >> reporter: now, the jury is testimony and diagrams of the stairwell where this took place to be shown to them again indicating that they want to go over the exact details of the shooting one more time. that tells us that this jury may take some time before they reach a verdict. michael george, news4 new york. >> we'll keep an eye on it. >>> in today's money report, the big move that could change what you see on twitter. >> we are so ready to hear about this. bill griffith joins us with that and a look at the markets. >> poor twitter. they're in a mess. let me tell you first what's happening on wall street. the dow was up 200 points almost on the open this morning. but that has eroded. it's virtually unchanged right now, right at that 16,000 level on the industrial average. the big story they're watching today is fed chair janet yellen on capitol hill ri

especially after is akai gurley was pronounced dead he didn't realize anyone had been shot. liang walked into the courtroom silently but at some points on the stand had to compose himself because he was weeping. the rookie cop said his finger was not on his glock but that the gun, quote, just went off when he was conducting vertical patrols of the pink houses in new york. during cross-examination, liang was asked why he never called 911 or administered cpr as akai gurley lay dying in a darkened stairwell. liang said he and his partner were bickering over who would call 911. then insisted that he didn't realize he shot anyone. when asked why he didn't take over for the girlfriend doing chest compressions he said, quote, i didn't know that i could do it better than her. noise startled him when he and his partner were conducting those vertical patrols. he's facing charges that include manslaughter and official misconduct. deliberations are expected in the case by sometime this afternoon. back to you. >> emotional testimony there. tracie, thank you. >>> we're getting a look at t

he's charged with second-degree manslaughter for the november 1994 shooting of akai gurley in houses. gurley was struck in the chest by a bullet fired by liang that ricochetted off a wall. his defense attorney argued in closing statements it was an accidental discharge. >> what peter says is i had an accidental discharge. i'm fine. now, that doesn't make any sense whatsoever. right? on.

reporter: taking a live look back out here at 1 police plaza, the rally supposed to start at 5:00 for akai gurley. more police officers than participants at this point. the gurley family in that statement that they issued earlier calling on the de blasio administration to divert funding for 1400 new nypd officers and reinvest the money in affordable housing and after-school programs. no word from the mayor's office. steve: thank you. police investigating a school two teenage girls were shot and killed at independence high school in glendale near phoenix. the two 15-year-olds were each shot once and died at the scene. the police are trying to figure out the relationship between the girls and would say they were not searching for any suspects. >> a huge warehouse fire has been contained but is still burning. steve: the fire created so much smoke, they took precautions. antwan lewis has the story. >> the store continues to burn. this is the safest point officials are allowing us to get to it. the black smoke in the distance lets you know something is going on. officials say that the fire is containe

. >>> jury deliberations continue tonight in the case of the nypd officer who shot akai gurley. was it a criminal act or a horrible accident? that decision is being weighed in downtown brooklyn. >> reporter: chuck, 15 hours of deliberations now. and late today the jury asked for a copy of the nypd's firearms and tactics guide. that's 186 pages and it seems to point them to exactly what peter liang was doing with his weapon on the night of november 20th, 2014 liang was the nypd rookie charged now with manslaughter, as assault, reckless endangerment and official misconduct in the death of akai gurley. this jury seems very very focused on what it was that caused officer liang's finger to wind up on the trigger as he burst into a darkened stairwell all the jury has asked for today is that firearms tactics guide and two white boards. they seem to be furiously working on something. the judge has ordered the jury to work until 6:30 tonight because of the long president's day weekend. courts are closed tomorrow. this jury could still produce a verdict tonight. stay tuned. >>> in other n

striking and killing a 28-year- old akai gurley. he pert his head in his hand when the jury -- put his head in his hands when the jury found him guilty. dozens are also upset. >> so many police officers have committed all kind of brutal violence against civilians but his was indeed an accident. >> the victim's family sees it differently. thanked the jury thursday night. >> we are not rejoicing but it is about being accountable. >> reporter: akai gurley's family is suing the city. his mother came to new york in 1983 and still wants to believe in the american dream. >> she still loves america. and what happened is not justice but it doesn't change what she feels about america. >> reporter: peter liang now awaits sentencing in april. he and his lawyers are planning to appeal. peter liang faces 15 years in prison but the judge could decide to give him no prison time at all. >> thank you. >>> nypd is looking for a man who pommeled a bus driver. using the driver as a punching the driver says the attack was unprovoked. >>> happening tomorr

he's accused of shooting and lling akai gurley in the p k houses in 2014. gurley's family is expected to demand justice forqhis death at a press conference this ternoon. >>> new this morning, passengers aboard a cruise ship out of bayonne feared for their lives when the ship hit rough waters yesterday. we're getting video of chairs overturned and other damage caused by stormy seas. the coast guard confirmed that the anthem of the seas hit what they call a rough patch of weather. that ship is now sailing toward port canaveral in florida under its own power. >>> the types of things you really can be scauyo'or people. >> this is a big storm out there, actua y. we're not going to get the major impact. t you see how wrapped up it is. it can really swell on up. the storm is tracking to the st, northeast. it looks more like a glancin shot. in the upper 30s in and around the city. most folks still above freezing. that works in our favor as the snow breaks out from east to west. 's backing in from off the atlantic ocean. when you can see a comma shape, that's deep lo

as for akai gurley's family, they are not here at this rally this evening, but they did put out a statement earlier today where they said they want to see big changes when it comes to nypd policy. >> i feel it was a tragedy for everyone involved. >> reporter: mayor bill de blasio saying his administration respects the jury's decision to convict former nypd officer peter liang. >> the jury has spoken here. >> reporter: he's downplaying calls for akai gurley's family liang and his partner were patrolling a stairwell when gurley was shot. >> they're necessary as part of keeping residents safe. we have to work to do them the right way. >> reporter: a day after the verdict against liang on manslaughter and official misconduct charges, the nypd announcing his former partner shaun landau, who testified against liang in exchange for immunity, has been fired. the pba president saying the verdict will have a chilling effect on the police force citing a shooting of two nypd officers in a bronx stairwell last week. >> the police officers were shot in an equally dangerous stairwell. that's why we have t

as the two bickered over how to report the incident, akai gurley was i heard someone crying and i said oh, my god, someone's been hit. liang he couldn't even tell the dispatcher where to send the paramedics and he did nothing to revive gurley. >> peter liang and left him to die in his own blood. >> reporter: he's on trial for manslaughter. were you responding to a violent crime in progress? no, said liang. startled you? it was a quick sound, liang said. it happened so quick it was a split second. >> if you're fearful whenever you go out on patrol, then being a police officer is not the job for you. >> reporter: officer liang broke down at one point and took two full minutes to regain his composure. closing arguments are expected here tomorrow. in downtown brooklyn, n.j. burkett, channel 7 eyewitness news. >>> just ahead, lee returns with much more on the snow showers tomorrow and some of the coldest temperatures of the you like being picture perfect. you should want your banking to be too. stop into td bank and we'll help set you up with picture perfect banking. new customers, open a c

she said she and akai were walking down the stairwell when suddenly the door opened and slammed in to the wall. i heard a shot. the bullet, the wall and struck gurley in the chest. they began running down the stairs. butler said until akai collapsed. i was telling him to stay with me. i'm getting help, she said. a neighbor called for help. she said he was conscious but not responding. his eyes were bloodshot red. he stopped making any noises. butler left the courtroom, emotionally distraught and in tears. she was surrounded by friends and family. tim fleischer, channel 7 eyewitness news. >>> as we continue with eyewitness at 6:00 for this tuesday night, an investigation in to a deadly elevator accident. a man falling several stories and he dies. driver who i'm neil patrick harris and new york is my home. no place has more world class culture. come winter, i can't wait to visit our must-see collections of art and superb photography and film. new york has beautifully restored theaters, that are now important centers for the performing arts. and museums that preserve the glories of the past. winter in new york state means more great things to do than

claimed liang was being reckless and did nothing to save akai gurley's life. >> we don't believe the verdict was supported by the facts or the law. we plan on moving post-verdict in order to dismiss. if that fails we plan to appeal. >> reporter: gurley's mother and domestic partner were present each day in court. >> i want to say thank you, thank you to everyone for all your support. >> reporter: the verdict came 17 hours into deliberations. women asked to handle liang's service weapon, the one that killed gurley. this juror, who didn't want to share his name, worries about facing his own family. >> i have family in police it was a tough decision. >> reporter: it was a tough decision, one pba president pat lynch disagrees with. saying this bad verdict will have effect on police officers rosshe city b i criminize al tragic accident. appearing on "good day new york" a moment ago, mother of akai gurley's two children will focus on efforts to keep his legacy alive. >> i told them he is not here. i try to explain to them, sometime they might understand, but they're not old enough to actual

this is about equal justice for all. >> reporter: a smaller counter protest in support of akai gurley held across the street. >> the black community wants a jail sentence. >> reporter: police officers did all they could to keep the group separate. tempers flared at times. still many of the protesters say both families and communities are heartbroken by what happened. >> i think that this is a tragedy for both sides. >> reporter: this was one of 40 country in support of peter liang. he will be sentenced april 14. >>> our temperature rollercoaster finally on an up swing after record lows last week. today people enjoying the warmer weather while others are playing sports in shorts sleeves and shorts. meteorologist elise finch is in the weather center. >> let's take a look at these high temperatures around the area today. look at these numbers. 64 for newark. a record 62 for islip. 62 for laguardia. 61 for central park. 59 for jfk and 52 degrees for bridgeport, connecticut. very different story from what we were talking about just last weekend. what a swing this is. last saturday 22 degre

he argued with his partner and to perform cpr on a dying akai gurley. this case garnered attention in part because it keam after a number of high proaflt shoot physician by police officers, of unarmed black men. take a listen. nothing to do with cleveland or any ore place. this has had to do with who are we in brooklyn? who do we stand for? and we support our police officers, but when innocent men are shot and killed, u through an act of recklessness, we have to hold whoever is responsible accountable. : we don't believe that the verdict was supported by facts of the law. we plan on moving the verdict in order to dismiss, an if that does we're going to apole. faces a possibility of 15 years behind bars and partner faces nypd. that's the latest priest new york. back to both of you. nypd used a secret device to track cell phones more than 1,000 tiles between 2008 and 2015. according to police data obtained by new york civil liberties union. stingray as it's known as size of a suitcase acts as a fake cell tower so phones connect to it and givers accurate l

it's no accident that it hit off the wall steps away from where akai gurley stood. it's no accident that that bullet ripped through his heart and killed him. >> reporter: liang didn't offer aid to the injured man and seemed to falter when it came time to call in the gunshot to his dispatcher. the charges including reckless manslaughter, assault and official misconduct. it began -- the trial began two weeks ago yesterday. the courtroom packed every day with supporters on both sides. lots of people for the family of the victim and the girlfriend who tried so desperately to save him in that stairwell as the officer who shot him stood by and fellow officers who were standing with peter liang as one of their own as accused of manslaughter for an on-duty shooting. this deliberation continues brooklyn lou young, cbs 2 news. >>> coastal communities are bracing for another round of storms. beaches in our area are taking a beating. bulldozers and heavy machinery were out in the jersey shore this morning trying to build up sand barriers to build up the shoreline. lonnie quinn,

he says 28-year-old akai gurley's death was a tragedy, not a crime. we have an update on a housing development we first told you about in may of last year. the fountainhouse apartment project began construction in september. it will house hundreds of residents in the heart of victorian square. that's where ryan canaday joins us live now with the latest on the development. ryan what can you tell us? ari developers say they are about 20% along in their work. construction workers are working on the foundation for the buildings. and on this side of the street, they have just completed their first building frame.. with nine more like this one still to come. "hammer" the first apartment building for this 40 million dollar project is making progress...and is expected to come to a completion sometime in june. "it takes about nine months to build a building from ground to finish. these large buildings, there's 22 units in each building, with garages so there's a lot of pieces and parts." but there's still a lot of work that needs to be done. "cement" upon comp

akai gurley's family gasped. i asked kenneth thompson what he whispered to the victim's mother after the verdict was read. >> i told his mother i'm sorry that we were in that courtroom at this point. because there are no winners. >> we're not rejoicing. but it's about being accountable. for the innocent life that was taken. >> reporter: the state's case hung on departure from accepted police practice and his claim of accidental discharge of a in a situation where there was no active threat. one juror spoke briefly on his way out. >> i have family who are police and it was a very tough decision. >> reporter: the defense team seemed shaken by the total defeat. >> i don't think the facts support reckless manslaughter. >> the police union criticized the verdict saying it will have a chilling effect by criminalizing mistakes but the da said this was about holding an officer accountable for recklessness. he bristled at any suggested this was part of a larger anti- police movement. >> there's no message here. nothing to

liang dropped his head after habits in the shooting death of 28-year-old akai gurley. the shooting happened in november 2014 at the pink houses in brooklyn where liang and his partner were conducting vertical patrols of the stair well of the housing unit. liang, a rookie officer, was startled and recklessly fired his gun into a darkened stair well. a bullet ricocheted off the wall and struck gurley in the chest. gurley was walking down the stairs with a friend. liang said it was a mistake, but the jury did not agree. for people living at the pink houses, word of that guilty verdict among them spread very quickly. >> what's the reason for your gun being out the holster? if you have it out the holster, that means you are ready to shoot. if you are scared, you shouldn't join the force. >> if harmful areas are where you put the rookies, that's where there's going to be problems. that's where people are going to get hurt, people getting killed, and there will be it's bad that he was situation like that but it's also bad that that boy lost his life. >> reporter: after the gu

akai gurley was struck with a ricochet bullet of the stairwell in east new york. a bullet fired by officer liang who say he pulled the trigger accidentally and never intended to shoot anyone. within the hour, the jury asked to hear once again the graphic 911 calls from a neighbor, a neighbor who relayed instructions to akai gurley's girlfriend, desperately performing cpr. >> a male, he's shot in the chest. he's in the stair hall. >> put it real thick over the gunshot wound. hold it down. >> i'm on the phone right now. there's a cop right here. >> okay, the ambulance is pulling up shortly, okay? >> the ambulance is on their way. >> the cops are there? >> he's not breathing. >> he's not breathing. put one hand on top. >> pinch his nose, put your mouth on top of his mouth and blow in it. >> at least one of the jurors appeared emotionally moved listening to those recordings, that desperate attempt to save the life of akai gurley. the jury resumed deliberations at 4:27 this afternoon. without a verdict they're expected to retire in the next several minutes. n.j. burket

akai gurley was walking down the stairs with his girlfriend because alec later was broken -- elevator was broken. the officer first texted his union representative before making a radio call for help. on thursday, a brooklyn jury found liang guilty of second-degree manslaughter and official misconduct. he now faces up to 15 years in prison. he will be sentenced on april 14. after the verdict was announced, akai gurley's mother, sylvia palmer, spoke out. >> i was very happy with the verdict. first, i want to thank god and then i want to thank the district attorney's office, the entire staff at the district attorney's office. they did an awesome job presenting the evidence to the jury and the court. i just want to say thank you. thank you to everyone for all your support. amy: in more news from new york city, public records obtained by the new york civil liberties union show the nypd has tracked civilians' cellphones more than 1000 times without a warrant since 2008. the aclu says the nypd tracked people's movements via their cell phones by using devices called stingrays, which mimic ce

convicted of manslaughter and official misconduct in connection with the death of 28- year-old akai gurley. the rookie officer was patrolling a dark stairwell with his gun drawn in 2014 when he fired, killing gurley. it could be another rough day on wallstreet if the foreign markets are any indication. every major asian market closed down this morning. this comes just a day after the dow jones dropped another 250-points. investors are reportedly freaked out by the dropping price of oil. the index has now lost almost 18- hundred points this year and there's talk the federal reserve will raise interest rates. it's not automatic, there are a number of things to consider, we haven't, so i wouldn't take those off the table but we would have work to do to judge whether they it's another frigid morning, but the city of cincinnati is encouraging you to get out and ride a bike. it's bike to work day and red bike is offering special deals. dblbx fox19 now's sara celi is live downtown with the details. live is winter bike to cincinnati. all day long people can buy $2 day passes for the red bikes, whi

akai gurley's mother and aunt thank the jury. >> we're not rejoicing. but it is about being accountable. >> they're suing the city and patrols but the mayor says they're essential. liang's mother came to new york from china in 1983 and still wants to believe in the american dream. >> she still loves america and what happened is not justice but it doesn't change what she feels about america. >> peter liang awaits sentencing in april. his lawyers are planning to appeal. the judge could decide to give him no prison time at all. >>> we've been talking about bracing for even colder temperatures than what we have right there. >> it wakes you up. >> and it will get worse. vanessa murdock is tracking it all for us. >> we say worse with a trial. hopefully it doesn't feel as bad when you step outside and it won't feel that bad this morning but tonight and tomorrow morning, it will be dangerously cold with the windchills. it is a chilly one. it feels like 11. the actual temperature is 21. we have west, northwest . this is as warm as it gets. we could see a passing

gurley's mother says what happens next proves this wasn't an accident. >> he did not perform cpr. he did notch at all to try to save akai's life that night. i need a conviction of peter liang. >> in addition to the manslaughter charge he also faces charge of official misconduct for allowing gurley's girlfriend to perform cpr instead of him stepping in and doing it. there's not a lot of training in the police academy and warn to avoid all media coverage of the case. the closing arguments are scheduled for this morning at 9:45. in downtown brooklyn diane macedo cbs 2 news. >>> thank you. about 4500 cruise ship passengers are on their way back after sailing through a terrifying storm. chairs and tables were over turned. one passenger was stuck in his room for 12 hours. he's questioning the company's decision to sail into hurricane force winds. >> when we first boarded the ship the captain said we are going to put the ship full the storm. >> they apologize to passengers and say wind speeds were higher than forecasted. four people on board were hurt. the ship is expected to dock at cape liberty tomorrow. >>> on long island pol

. >> will the verdict against rookie police officer peter liang for killing akai gurley have an impact on the fump train ture training of police officers? >>> now the family of shannon gilbert says new homicide should understand >>> pulled it behind his back with such force that it cracked it in half. >> the incident was captured by security cameras ap on on a cell phone. the teenager left hurting and crying on the street. >> if you're a mother, you know something's not right. >> reporter: in route to the hospital, the stop hadn't even been reported. that led to the suspension of a two-year police veteran who didn't fill out a report until 24 hours later. the detectives are still with >> this is about getting justice, about getting these cops arrested. >> reporter: why are those officers still on the street? they tell us they are waiting for the outcome of the essex county prosecutor's investigation to determine how to move forward. in the meantime the watkins family is suing for physical and emotional pain and suffering. >>> that will do it for us. we thank you for watching. >>> live

he is charged with accidentally shooting and killing akai gurley in the pink houses in brooklyn. won't return to court until tuesday. dari: it has been a week since two nypd officers were shot while patrolling a bronx housing project. steve: both officers are out of the hospital, but the incident highlights the dangers police and public face in public housing. dari: lisa evers joined a former nypd lieutenant to see how officers secure the stairwells. >> reporter: i'm here in the melrose houses where two police officers were shot in the stairwell last week. if it's that dangerous for the cops, imagine what it's like for the people living here. thousands of families live in the housing development. they tell us they have constant worries about crime, despite the nypd presence and outdoor cameras. getting inside your building doesn't mean your safe, not when the front door is unlocked. >> there's always something wrong around here. melrose, they should have security. >> reporter: we wanted to get an idea of how dangerous it is in police officers. we invited a retired nypd lieutenant and c

and he shot akai gurley. the bullet hit off the wall near where he stood. it ripped through his heart and ended in his liver. that's why we're here today. >> reporter: the officer took the step of testifying on his own behalf and was the defense's only witness. to have his fun -- gun out and the death is a tragedy but not a crime. >> what happened here is a tragedy, a terrible tragedy, but it's not a crime. >> reporter: prosecutors counter that officer liang was trained and had a flashlight and after he fired the bullet, delayed checking on gurley as he lay dying. in his testimony, he says he panicked and did not give gurley cpr, check for a pulse or breathing or call for an ambulance. the jury has five charges to consider. they were actually given a verdict sheet that has not guilty or guilty for each of the five charges. the most serious one of second-degree manslaughter. if officer liang is found guilty, he could be looking at up to 15 years behind bars. live in downtown brooklyn, i'm lisa evers, fox 5 news. back to you. steve: thanks. dari: thank you. d

closely followed the murder trial of police officer peter liang convicted in the shooting death of akai gurley in the stairwell of a brooklyn housing project. both liang and his partner said they didn't give him cpr after he was hit by a ricocheting bullet because they weren't properly trained in the police academy. >> immediately upon that statement being made we initiated an internal affairs investigation. >> reporter: liang testified he had little training and the that the instructors gave the students the answers to the multiple choice first aid test. cbs 2 asked the nypd for details of the cpr training students in a class and number of instructors, the length of the classes and how many test dummies were available to practice on. >> under no circumstances will we tolerate any instructor in the new york city police department short-circuiting the process of testing to validate that the officer has the skills necessary to safely patrol this city. >> reporter: and nypd spokesman says cpr training lasts a full day and the student to instructor ratio is one to three to one to six and there are

that shot struck akai gurley in the chest and killed him. although prosecutors have insisted that act was reckless, the defense has insisted that liang was startled and fired his gun accidentally, said that to the jury over and over again. they said he had reason to draw his weapon despite the fact that gurley was unarmed and posed no obvious threat. >> the prosecution's case is a lot of [ indiscernible ] >> reporter: in the people's opening they made many, many -- what they were going to prove they have to prove their case to you beyond a reasonable doubt. >> one of the people who was sworn was a nice girl and on november 20th he shot and killed gurley for no good reason. >> reporter: right before he began his charge, the judge dismissed one of the official misconduct counts against peter liang, the count that dealt with his alleged failure to provide aid to akai gurley. that said, there were still other four counts, counts are manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide and then the other official misconduct. the case expected to go to the

going to surprise one another. time of patrol officer liang was on the night he shot and killed akai gurley. >> until we find a better way and a safer way and one that the community understands, but also allows the police officers to do their job in a safe manner. >> reporter: do you learn how to do a vertical patrol in the academy democrat academy? >> no we do not. >> reporter: when liang became an officer there was likely one training officer for about a dozen rookies. >> i think that no matter how good the academy training will be, nothing replicates actually doing it. each officer handles that differently and needs a different amount of training. >> reporter: many believe vertical patrols are essential to public safety including mayor de blasio. necessary as part of keeping our public housing residents safe. >> reporter: today the mayor defended the practice saying all officers now receive more training than they did in the past. new officers are now assigned two at a time to work with one field training officer. senior police officer that has a lot of years on the job to walk officers.

joe -- [ inaudible ] [ loud background noise ] >> the one that killed akai gurley after rookie cop peter liang drew it in a dark public housing stairwell. the defense says it was an accident, he was startled and it was a mistaken firing and asked for a mistrial saying the prosecution was too harsh in the closing argument saying that it was a criminal act and it was a cover-up. the judge turned it down. the talk of the cover-up was plausible, reasonable, given the officer's actions. the loud wind ] -- [ loud wind drowning out speaker ] [ inaudible ] that required the court to grant a mistrial. so the application is denied. >> reporter: peter liang faces three possible felony counts one of which he could be convicted of, the highest is manslaughter and that carries up to 15 years. the second is second-degree assault up to 7 years. criminally negligent homicide up to 4 years. the misdemeanor counts include reckless endangerment and official misconduct. they each max out at a year. the jury listened to 911 tapes, very dramatic moment as they listened to the attempts to revive akai gurley in

his supporters believe him when he says that the 2014 shooting death of akai gurley in the stairwell of a housing project was an accident. >>> similar protests over the liang conviction were held across the country, including in san francisco, dallas and in iphiladelphia. >>> police want your help to fi'and a missing 8-year-old boy with autism. romeo richardson got separated from his family on the subpay laorst night. the little boy from the bronx was with his brother, sister and a cousin headed to coney island. apparently, he was the only one who made it on to the number 5 train when the doors closed platform. he can't read, has limited speaking ability. please contact police. >>> now, decision 2016. after a big night in south carolina and nevada, donald trump and hillary clinton came out on top. another republican candidate bowed out of the race. it was the second straight victory for trump and his first in the south. marco rubio he said the second place finish last night put him one step closer to being president. ted cruz kept his spot in the top tier of three. jeb bush came in a

liang was convicted last week in the shooting of akai gurley. organizers say those rallies will also be held nationwide in 40 other cities. margaret chen has called for leniency. he faces up to 15 years in prison. >> right now in queens, the nypd looking for a man who they believe attacked an mta employee. this is video of the person police want to find. he's suspected of punching the victim in the face. police say the suspect smashed the victim's two-way radio before getting away. >>> new at noon, the city's vision zero kpap is getting a new look. city council members and transportation officials unveiled this giant new billboard today in washington heights. it's part of a multi-cultural ad campaign. the vision zero team says it's also a good reminder for everybody on the roads to slow down. >> if you can drive at a safe speed, you can be prepared for anything that might happen on the streets of new york. we have dense streets, pedestrians, cyclists. drive at a safe speed, be alert. >> that new ad campaign is being funded thanks to $2.5 million

. >> peter liang broke down at his he says he panicked after shooting akai gurley in a dark stairwell and didn't administer cpr or check for a pulse. closing arguments are set for tomorrow. >> new safety regulations for cranes are in effect in the city after last week's deadly collapse in tribeca. they include more sidewalk protection for pedestrians and extra precautions for strong winds and bigger fines. >>> the anthem of seas cruise ship is heading back to new jersey after encountering heavy storms off florida. it was so bad, the captain ordered everyone to their cabins to be safe. no one was hurt, but there was plenty of damage on board. that's what's happening in the news. nick is joining us and it feels like winter finally. we've had a storm or two and we're in it now. nick: we have some more coming. this weekend i started warning about this last week, the coldest air of the season and since a year ago is on the way. ernie: double scarf, caps. nick: be prepared for that. ernie: not a lot of snow? nick: well -- it's not looking that way now. there might be a sizable amount in cen

of new york city police officer peter liang for the fatal shooting of unarmed african-american akai gurley. a jury will now consider the fate of liang, who shot gurley in a darkened stairwell of a brooklyn housing project. officer liang said he was startled by a noise and flinched, accidentally firing his gun. but assistant district attorney joseph alexis said the shooting was no accident. >> the gunned it. just go off -- the gunned it just not the law. the officer took his finger [indiscernible] put his finger on the trigger. he points the gun directly in the direction where the sound was any fired. he shot. in the shot he fired when off a wall, is no accident that it hit off the wall steps away from where akai gurley stood. that no accident that bullet ripped through his heart. amy: a black lives matter activist has shot himself to death at the entrance to the ohio statehouse. marshawn mccarrell was 23 years old. he had mccarrell organized against the police shooting of michael brown in ferguson and worked to aid the homeless, after he himself was homeless for three months. his last post

striking and killing 28-year-old akai gurley. >> i see peter upset at home. you see? no eelt anything. >> -- no eat anything. >> so many police officers have committed all kinds of brutal violence against civilians but his was indeed an accident. >> the jury of course, ruled otherwise. april. the lawyers are planning to appeal. he faces up to 15 years in prison but he could get no prison time at all. >>> a dog is safe and sound marsh. the fire department used a boat to cross-ice cold water to a snow covered island yesterday. the dog named nico had been there since thursday night after bringing her back to safety, she lives nearby. nico was a little dirty and cold but otherwise was not hurt. >> good for nico and the firefighters for putting their own lives at risk to get the dog to safety. >> a tough job this weekend with the temperatures. let's head over to meteorologist vanessa murdock. hopefully they don't have to work outside too much. >> we wish them all the best. we know temperatures are plunging, winds are picking up. it will be brutally cold tonight. the trend

liang was convicted in the shooting death of akai gurley, who was unarmed in the dark stairwell of a public housing project in 2014. liang had testified that he didn't know anyone was in the pitch-black stairway, when he unintentionally fired his drawn weapon after being startled by a noise. allyson: one person is dead and several are injured after a stabbing attack in a restaurant in central ohio. police say the unnamed suspect walked into the columbus restaurant and attacked several people. four people were taken to the hospital with injuries, including one who was in life-threatening condition. that person is now in stable officials say the suspect was armed with a machete before being shot and killed by police at a nearby location. the motive for the attack is unknown at this time. geoff: new helmet cam footage shows california fire fighters rescuing a dog from a home engulfed in flames. fire fighters searched the sacramento home for victims. what they found was a scared dog hiding. there is a look at the dog there. the dog was pulled from its hiding spot in a back bedroom and ca

liang is accused of shooting akai gurley two years ago. the trial was delayed after one ror had to be taken to the hospital with@a swollen knee. >>> today also marks four years since 18-year-old ramarley graham was shot and killed by anpd officer who chased him into the bathroom of his home in the bronx. graham's parents are asking for the officer to be fired. they sent a copy of the letter sent to the mayor and his wife. the parents call it sickening that the officer is still being paid by new york tax dollarses. >> the son of the deblasio of killing a teenager. khari nordlinger is being accused. we're told there was a fight and noerdlinger stabbed one of them in the leg. that 16-year-old suspect died. >> i'm a light sleeper, i can't hear a thing. >> in edgewater this is beyond strange. >> police said noerdlinger tried to get rid of the knife after the stabbing. >>> on staten island, five of new york's bravest were hurt battling a fire in st. clair avenue two fell through the floor inside. all five are in stable condition recovering in a

cbs 2's lou young spent the day in brooklyn following up on the story of peter liang and akai gurley. >> reporter: chinese new yorkers discussed what to do about peter liang. >> it's insulting! the verdict is insulting! >> reporter: the rookie won was fired thursday night when -- cop was fired thursday night when a jury convicted him of manslaughter after killing a man in a project hallway during a routine foot patrol. have committed all kinds of brutal violence against civilians. but his was indeed an accident. >> police officers get split decisions. and it's pretty clear from what i can see that this was purely an accidental shooting. >> reporter: victim's family doesn't city it that way. akai gurley's mother and aunt thanked the jury last night for what they see as justice. >> we're not rejoicing. but it's about being accountable. >> reporter: the family is suing the city demanding the nypd stop doing the vertical patrols in these projects stairwells. the mayor says no. >> vertical patrols are necessary as part of keeping our public housing residents safe. but we have to work const

in the 2014 shooting death of 28-year-old akai gurley, at the lewis pink houses in east new york. liang, who broke down on the witness stand today, was patrolling the durkin stairwell with his gun drawn. he says he was startled by a sudden noise and the gun went off. early's mother had a message for the officer. >> akai, his death was no accident. i need justice for my son. i need a conviction of peter liang. >> liang also admitted he did not radio for help right after the shooting. >>> now to campaign 2016, new hampshire where the presidential primaries take place tomorrow, and tonight, pitches to voters. >> donald trump made what could be his most outrageous remark it. political reporter marcia kramer live in manchester tonight, with the very latest. marsha? >> reporter: maurice, most polls open in the morning, but three small villages start voting in less than an hour. population nine, heart, population 41, and millersville, population 22. it's the first indication of how state voters field but tonight, there's a new controversy involving donald trump. >> she just said a terrib

he was convicted in the shooting death of akai gurley who was a public housing project in liang had testified that he didn't know anyone was in the pitch-black stairway when he unintentionally fired his drawn weapon after being startled by a geoff: one person is dead and several are injured after a stabbing attack in a restaurant in central ohio. police say the unnamed suspect walked into the columbus restaurant and attacked several people. four people were taken to the hospital with injuries, including one who was in life-threatening condition. that person is now in stable condition. officials say the suspect was armed with a machete before being shot and killed by police at a nearby location. the motive for the attack is unknown at this time. allyson: new helmet cam footage shows california fire fighters rescuing a dog from a home engulfed in flames. fire fighters searched the sacramento home for victims. what they found was a scared dog hiding. the dog was pulled from its hiding spot in a back bedroom and carried to safety. the occupants of the home all got out safely, and the dog was reun

he accidentally shot and killed akai gurley in a dark stairwell back in 2014. to be repeated and to rehear 911 recordings. they will resume deliberations in the morning. >> the federal government is filing a civil rights lawsuit against the city of ferguson, missouri. this comes a day after the ferguson city council voted to revise an agreement aimed at fixing how police treat minorities. >> the ferguson police department's violations in particular were expansive and deliberate. they violated the 4th amendment by stopping people without reasonable suspicion. by arresting them without cause and by using unreasonable force. they made enforcement decisions based on the way individuals expressed themselves. and they unnecessarily escalated nonlife-threatening situations. ernie: ferguson has been watched closely since the shooting of 18-year-old michael brown by police. city officials haven't commented on the suit. >> new jersey governor chris christie is dropping out of the presidential race. iowa and new hampshire where he got 7 percent of the vote led to the decision. >> and the anthem of th