A former New York City police officer has been found not guilty of murder in the shooting death of his childhood friend during a confrontation on Long Island.
A jury on Thursday found Eric Allen, 30, guilty only of intimidation in the May 12, 2020 shooting of Christopher Curro, Newsday reported.
Allen was off-duty when he shot and killed Curro, an elementary school friend from North Massapequa. New York State Attorney General Letitia James’ office investigated the shooting as involving a police officer.
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Prosecutors in James’ office said during the five-week trial that Allen shot Curro in the head, neck and arm “execution style” after an angry text message exchange. Defense attorney Anthony LaPinta said Curro attacked Allen and tried to take his NYPD-issued gun. LaPinta called the shooting a “classic self-defense incident,” Newsday reported.
A New York City Police Department (NYPD) car photographed on March 18, 2016. (Reuters/Brendan McDiarmid)
A Nassau County jury acquitted Allen of murder and manslaughter charges. The threat carries a maximum penalty of one year in prison, and Allen, who has been in jail since being charged in August 2021, was scheduled to be released Thursday night.
Curro’s mother was outraged by the verdict, saying she was “very surprised and very shocked.” Suzanne Curro said her son, who was 24 at the time of his death, was unarmed during the crash.
“Chris was unarmed,” his mother told Newsday. “My son used only words, no weapons or hands.”
“I hope everyone can begin to heal. I hope the Curro family can find peace,” said Allen’s father-in-law, Kyle Sabas.
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The attorney general’s office declined to comment.
