'Exceptional' NYPD officer dies from gunshot wound to head

[webfact]

'Exceptional' NYPD officer dies from gunshot wound to head
By MICHAEL BALSAMO

NEW YORK (AP) — A 25-year-old police officer shot in the head while attempting to stop a man suspected of carrying a handgun died Monday from his injuries, the third New York City officer slain on duty in five months.

Brian Moore, who was in a coma after undergoing brain surgery following the Saturday evening shooting, was pronounced dead at a Queens hospital with his family, including his police officer father, uncle and cousin, at his bedside.

Hundreds of uniformed officers stood at attention outside the hospital and lined up down the block to salute the ambulance carrying his body. Afterward, many could be seen crying and consoling one another.

"He proved himself to be an exceptional young officer," Police Commissioner William Bratton said, noting Moore had made more than 150 arrests in less than five years on the job and earned meritorious service medals.

Moore and his partner were in plainclothes and in an unmarked police car when they approached Demetrius Blackwell in a quiet Queens neighborhood after they saw him adjusting his waistband, a move that made them suspicious he had a handgun, authorities said.

The officers pulled up next to Blackwell, 35, and exchanged words before the man suddenly turned, pulled out a weapon and fired at least twice at them, striking Moore in the head and face, according to court documents.

Blackwell has been charged with attempted murder and other crimes. He is being held without bail and has not entered a plea. His attorney has denied the charges.

He will be charged with first-degree murder, prosecutors said.

Investigators discovered the five-shot silver Taurus used in the shooting under a box near a backyard grill along the route Blackwell fled following the shooting, Chief of Detectives Robert Boyce said.

The gun, which had two live rounds still in the chamber, was one of 23 weapons reported stolen in October 2011 from a bait and tackle shop in Perry, Georgia, he said. Ten of those weapons have since been recovered — nine of them in in New York.

Mayor Bill de Blasio mourned Moore's death.

"He risked his life for a very simple notion — to keep everyone else safe, to keep our society safe, to keep order," the mayor said at an evening news conference. "This is what he wanted to do."

Patrick Lynch, who heads the rank-and-file police officers' union, joined Moore's family at the hospital and told reporters afterward that the city's police force would pay their respects, and then return to their posts patrolling streets, stairwells and subways.

"They may have sadness in their eyes, but they have bravery in the hearts," he said.

Moore had been on the job since July 2010, officials said. Flags at police headquarters were flying at half-staff Monday.

He is the first city officer to be killed on duty since two uniformed police officers were slain in December in Brooklyn.

Officers Wenjian Liu, 32, and Rafael Ramos, 40, were shot at close range as they were sitting in their patrol car Dec. 20. The gunman, 28-year-old Ismaaiyl Brinsley, then ran into a nearby subway station and fatally shot himself.

Before the ambush, Brinsley posted on an Instagram account that he was planning to shoot two "pigs" in retaliation for Eric Garner's death in an apparent police chokehold.

Officials have said Blackwell made no such postings and had an extensive criminal history, including serving five years in prison on an attempted murder conviction.
___

Associated Press writer Jonathan Lemire contributed to this report.


-- (c) Associated Press 2015-05-05

[NeverSure]

RIP officer Brian Moore. Condolences to your family, friends, and fellow officers.

In this case an unprovoked and senseless killing of a white cop by a black hoodlum with a serious rap sheet.

[Rimmer]

Troll post attempting to hijack the topic and a couple of replies to have been removed

[robertthebruce]

How Sad.. and just 25 years old his life had just begun...

R.I.P.

Tragic...

[Somtamnication]

RIP.

1*

[godden]

The other side of the coin, RIP young fella.

[Queenslander]

I now await the moral outrage, the organized marches and hysterical biased rhetoric of the media, maybe throw in a few burnt cars and a bit of pillaging. Sadly, all I hear is the sound of silence.

RIP Fallen Colleague

Police Prayer

Lord, I ask for courage

Courage to face and conquer my own fears

Courage to take me where others will not go

I ask for strength

Strength of body to protect others

And strength of spirit to lead other

I as for dedication

Dedication to my job, to do it well

Dedication to my community, to keep it safe

Give me. Lord, concern for those who trust me

And compassion for those who need me

And please, Lord, through it all,

Bet at my side

[user786895]

A seriously, seriously brave young man to approach a guy that he suspects is armed. I am very sorry that it turned out the way it did, losing his life like that while doing his job in attempting to protect the public. I am not surprised to learn of the sadness of his fellow colleagues who must be shocked by the senseless death of well liked and renowned young officer. What a tragedy.

[fred Kubasa]

Lets try to report this the same way recent other murders have taken place - WHITE police officer shot by BLACK man !

[NickJ]

Horrible tragedy. My thoughts to his family. ........When it boils down to trouble or conflict the police are the first to be called.

Shame on people dissing them. Its for the most part that group of people who call them first when they bang a toe nali and want to cast the blame.........

[Chicog]

Terribly sad, but you have to wonder why they pulled up alongside what they considered to be an armed suspect, literally putting themselves in the firing line.

Too many poor decisions being made recently, do we need to look at the Police Academies?

RIP Officer Moore, you died too young.

[nottocus]

Sad…but hey…part of the job no?

[jagfx]

Sad…but hey…part of the job no?

You are kidding me! No, it is not part of the job you goose. Being an ex Police Officer myself, I wouldn't have done it if that was the case. You do put yourself in the line of danger on many occasions, but you are generally trained to deal with it accordingly. The thing is, that anything could happen anytime, and it normally something that you don't expect that causes you the most grief. I have been in both General Duties (Patrolman) and TRG (SWAT) Policing and even though in TRG I was dealing with more volatile or violent situations, it was the General Duties Policing that was the most stressful at times, as you are walking into situations completely unawares, under manned and sometimes outgunned. It is a thankless job at times where you are dealing with the dark side of humanity, but you do expect to go home at the end of each shift and hug your family. Pull your head in nottocus...

[cookee68]

Lets try to report this the same way recent other murders have taken place - WHITE police officer shot by BLACK man

Yep you took the words right out of my mouth, so where does everyone meet up for the riots, and the looting, oh sorry I read it wrong, I thought it was a white police officer shot a black guy, I don't see any riots in the streets over this, goes to show it is a color issue, and not a white issue

[nottocus]

Sad…but hey…part of the job no?

You are kidding me! No, it is not part of the job you goose. Being an ex Police Officer myself, I wouldn't have done it if that was the case. You do put yourself in the line of danger on many occasions, but you are generally trained to deal with it accordingly. The thing is, that anything could happen anytime, and it normally something that you don't expect that causes you the most grief. I have been in both General Duties (Patrolman) and TRG (SWAT) Policing and even though in TRG I was dealing with more volatile or violent situations, it was the General Duties Policing that was the most stressful at times, as you are walking into situations completely unawares, under manned and sometimes outgunned. It is a thankless job at times where you are dealing with the dark side of humanity, but you do expect to go home at the end of each shift and hug your family. Pull your head in nottocus...

One of the hazards of the job might be a better way to say it….always gotta face the possibility that one day you won't be returning home.

[stander]

Officer Brian Moore's death would receive more attention if Moore had killed his assailant.

[DavisH]

A seriously, seriously brave young man to approach a guy that he suspects is armed. I am very sorry that it turned out the way it did, losing his life like that while doing his job in attempting to protect the public. I am not surprised to learn of the sadness of his fellow colleagues who must be shocked by the senseless death of well liked and renowned young officer. What a tragedy.

I agree with you, but I wonder if this is the correct procedure to approach someone who is armed. Are police not allowed to have their weapons at the ready in such an instance? I take nothing away from this brave man's death, though. I hope the authorities review this case and what actually happened to lead to his death.