NYPD Officer Peter Figoski, a 22-year veteran of the police force, was murdered in the line of duty on Monday, December 12, in Brooklyn, NY.
NEW YORK (MYFOXNY) -
The trials of two men accused in the shooting death of NYPD Officer Peter Figoski got underway Thursday in downtown Brooklyn.
Figoski, a 22-year veteran of the force, was shot once while responding to a botched robbery in East New York, Brooklyn in Dec. 2011.
Lamont Pride and Michael Velez were part of a group of five men robbing a drug dealer's apartment at 25 Pine Street , according to prosecutors.
Pride, 28, is accused of shooting Figoski. Velez, 22, drove to the apartment and waited outside, said police.
The alleged gunman and another man tried to escape when the gunman opened fire as they fled the scene, said police.
One of the men reportedly accepted a plea deal and would testify against Pride and Velez in exchange for reduced jail time.
Figoski, 47, was at the bottom of a staircase leading from the street to the basement when he was hit.
His partner, Police Officer Glenn Estrada, was already struggling on the street level in front of the house with a second suspect, when he heard the shot and observed the gunman run by him.
Officer Estrada released the man he was struggling with and pursued the gunman, capturing him after a foot pursuit of several blocks at the corner of Fulton and Chestnut streets.
The five suspects, including Pride, pleaded not guilty to murder charges.
Figoski's funeral in West Babylon drew 20,000 fellow officers, family and friends.
The turnout was so enormous some officers lined up on the nearby Long Island Rail Road platform to salute as Figoski's casket was placed in a hearse.
Figoski was survived by a wife and four daughters. He had 12 medals awarded, including eight for exceptional police duty.
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NYPD Officer Peter Figoski, a 22-year veteran of the police force, was murdered in the line of duty on Monday, December 12, in Brooklyn, NY.
