NYPD officer to face murder charge after killing mentally ill woman
Source: The Guardian
The NYPD sergeant who fatally shot a mentally ill Bronx woman in her home was charged with murder on Wednesday afternoon, pleading not guilty and posting a $100,000 bond. Sgt Hugh Barry was also charged with manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide for the shooting that sparked protest and deeply troubled top NYC officials.
Barry shot Deborah Danner in October after police were called to her apartment by a neighbor for a disturbance. Danner, a 66-year-old black woman with schizophrenia, had allegedly approached the officer with a bat after briefly wielding a pair of scissors.
Bronx borough president Ruben Diaz said in a statement Wednesday that the decision was “a positive first step towards addressing an issue that has been long neglected”.
“Clearly, there were options available to Sgt Barry which he failed to implement, and his conduct in this case is by no means a reflection on the great work of the New York City Police Department and its dedicated members,” he added.
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Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/may/31/nypd-police-shooting-hugh-barry-deborah-danner
Jamiles Lartey in New York
Wednesday 31 May 2017 19.31 BST