NYC officer pleads not guilty to manslaughter in shooting

NEW YORK (AP) — A rookie police officer pleaded not guilty today to manslaughter, official misconduct and other charges in the accidental shooting death of a man in a darkened stairwell of a Brooklyn public housing complex.

Officer Peter Liang appeared briefly in a Brooklyn courtroom packed with officers as the charges, which also include criminally negligent homicide and assault, were unsealed. His attorney, Stephen Worth, maintained the shooting was an accident. Liang was released without bail.

The victim, 28-year-old Akai Gurley, was killed on Nov. 20 while visiting a public housing complex in Brooklyn's gritty East New York neighborhood to get his hair braided. Liang had less than two years on the job, including his time at the police academy.

Assistant District Attorney Mark Fliedner said Liang was supposed to have kept his finger off the trigger if he had his gun drawn because of a perceived danger.

"The defendant ignored this training. ... As a result, Mr. Akai Gurley is dead."