Family will memorialize Akai Gurley 10 years after Brooklyn police shooting

BROOKLYN, N.Y. (PIX11) – The family of a 28-year-old fatally shot by an NYPD officer will commemorate his death on Saturday, 10 years after the young father was killed in Brooklyn. 

Akai Gurley was fatally shot by an NYPD officer in 2014 in the stairwell of the Pink Houses, a NYCHA development. Gurley was unarmed and deemed by police to be a “total innocent,” according to the Legal Defense Fund. 

The celebration of life is set for 6:30 p.m. in East New York.

“It’s been a tough ten years, there’s still no justice,” said Hertencia Peterson, Gurley’s aunt. “I just want to thank everyone who has been supportive during these years and not only that, but for those who are here with me today or remember him.”

The officer, Peter Liang, was arrested and convicted related to the shooting and ultimately sentenced to five years probation and 500 hours of community service, according to then-Brooklyn District Attorney Ken Thompson. 

Former Officer Liang was on patrol when he opened a stairwell door at a public housing building and suddenly fired. The bullet ricocheted and hit Gurley.

“There are no winners here,” Thompson said. 

The city paid $4.1 million and the New York City Housing Authority contributed $400,000 to settle a wrongful death lawsuit filed by Gurley’s family in 2016. 

In addition to money from the city, Liang paid $25,000 to the mother of Gurley’s daughter as part of the settlement.

This story comprises reporting from The Associated Press