By Michael Balsamo
Associated Press
NEW YORK — A man who authorities say boasted of being a street “hellraiser” and who served prisontime for attempted murder has been indicted on first-degree murder and other charges in last month’s killing of a New York Police Department officer, a district attorney announced Thursday.
Demetrius Blackwell, 35, was arrested after a manhunt that followed the May 2 shooting of Officer Brian Moore. Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said a grand jury returned a 12-count indictment in Moore’s shooting and death.
“Officer Moore was a young police officer with a bright and promising future whose life was senselessly cut short far too soon,” Brown said at a news conference. “His death is a somber and costly reminder of the dangers that our police officers face each day as they carry out their sworn duty to protect and serve our communities.”
Moore, who was the son, nephew and cousin of police officers, was the third New York City officer slain on duty in five months.
“He risked his life for a very simple notion — to keep everyone else safe, to keep our society safe, to keep order,” Mayor Bill de Blasio said after Moore’s death. “This is what he wanted to do.”
Police said Moore, 25, and his partner had approached Blackwell that night after they saw him adjusting his waistband. Authorities said Blackwell refused to stop, turned and fired at the officers. Moore was shot twice in the head and died two days later.
Brown would not answer questions Thursday about a possible motive for the shooting. Blackwell is due to be arraigned Thursday afternoon.
The indictment includes aggravated murder, second-degree murder, attempted murder, weapon possession, drug and stolen property charges.
Brown said that after Blackwell shot Moore, he stole a T-shirt and sneakers to alter his appearance. He was also found with cocaine and marijuana, Brown said.
“The defendant’s alleged conduct — and his total disregard for the law and authority — clearly demonstrate that he is a serious threat to society,” Brown told reporters.
If convicted, Blackwell could be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Prosecutors will not offer him a plea deal, Brown said.
At his initial arraignment last month as Moore lingered in a coma, prosecutors said Blackwell told police he is known by the nickname “Hellraiser” on the street.
State corrections records show Blackwell was convicted in 2001 of attempted murder after he pointed a gun at an occupant of a car during a robbery attempt and then fired shots at the vehicle. He served five years behind bars and was sent back to prison for violating parole in 2007. He was released again in 2008.
Authorities said Blackwell was also arrested in 2013 after he grabbed an NYPD detective’s badge and spit at him.
Blackwell’s attorney, David Bart, has said that his client “has no particular animus toward police officers” and that he “emphatically denies” the charges against him.