A NEW YORK city police officer shot in the face on Saturday evening has died, Police Commissioner William Bratton announced today.
Brian Moore, 25, had been in a coma after undergoing brain surgery, but was pronounced dead at a hospital in Queens today, with his family at his bedside, including a father, uncle and cousin who were police officers.
“He proved himself to be an exceptional young officer,” Commissioner Bratton said, noting he 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’s being held without bail and hasn’t entered a plea. His attorney has denied the charges.
It’s likely that the charges will now be upgraded to murder.
In a statement this evening, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said:
The shooting of Officer Brian Moore over the weekend was a deplorable act of violence that has robbed New York of one of its finest.
Moore is the first city officer to be killed on duty since two uniformed police officers were shot dead in December while sitting in their patrol car in Brooklyn.
Contains reporting by the Associated Press.
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