Cop-Killer Found Guilty in Queens

November 10, 2017 journalism Top Stories 0

By TATYANA BELLAMY-WALKER & MARLENE GOMEZ

A career criminal portrayed by his defense lawyer as having a “compromised brain” was found guilty of murder in the 2015 killing of police officer Brian Moore on Thursday in a Queens courtroom filled with many of the victim’s grim-faced colleagues from the 105th Precinct there to see justice done.

The jury reached the unanimous guilty on cop-killer Demetrius Blackwell, 37, following two days of deliberation considering, among other matters, whether Blackwell was dealing with mental instability at the time of the shooting in Queens Village. They rejected that argument.

The defense built part of its case on the diagnosis by a psychotherapist that Blackwell had suffered from epilepsy and had surgery two years before the shooting that might have impacted his cognitive skills. However, on the day Blackwell was detained for the shooting and claimed he was having a seizure, a Queens Hospital employee determined that to be false.

Blackwell wearing white collared shirt and black slacks was orderly, but did not show any emotion or remorse after hearing the verdict, which included one count of attempted  murder of the victim’s partner and unlawful possession of a weapon.  As he was led away he winked at members of the press and mumbled “I love you” to an unidentified supporter.

 A mix of anger and vindication at the slaying of Moore, 25, marked the atmosphere outside the courthouse as his parents and supporters gathered to address reporters, standing before a mass of blue-uniformed officers.

 “He didn’t know this was going to be his last day,” said the victim’s mother Irene eulogizing her son about the day the plainclothes officer left for work. “He was the greatest human being on this planet.”

 Moore’s father Raymond, a retired police sergeant, did not mince words when asked what he had to say about the defendant: “I’d like to walk up to him, tell, ‘Yeah I got something for you,’ and put two bullets in his head.” 

 PBA President Patrick Lynch, turned toward the couple of dozen police officers standing behind him and said, “Let this mutt know if you attack one of us you’ve attacked us all.”

 

Moore was working with his partner Erik Jansen, 30, on May 2, 2015 when they approached Blackwell. whom they saw adjusting his waistband. Moore identified himself as police, then  asked Blackwell if he had something on him. Blackwell responded, “Yeah I got something” then pulled out a silver revolver and fired three shots at the officers. One shot missed Jansen and hit a house instead. Two of those shots fatally struck Moore who died two days later.

The handgun was retrieved from a neighbor’s yard two days after the shooting with two bullets still in it. DNA evidence linked Blackwell to the murder weapon.

 Queens DA Richard Brown said the victim’s death showed the public the dangers facing officers.

 It’s a sad victory,” Brown said of the verdict. “The murder was callous and intentional.”

 Assistant DA Daniel Sanders, said eyewitness testimony from former partner Jansen helped cause the speedy verdict.

 “There’s no such thing as a slam dunk,” Sanders said. “The key piece of evidence in this case was the survived partner.”

This was not the first time Blackwell faced time behind bars. In 2000, Blackwell served five years in prison for attempted murder and had a string of drug arrests.

The defendant was scheduled for sentencing on Dec. 12 and faces up to 25 years to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

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