NEW YORK — A New York State trooper was charged with manslaughter Monday for fatally shooting an unarmed driver after he refused to get out of his car following a high-speed chase.
Police officer Anthony Nigro pleaded not guilty to first- and second-degree manslaughter at an arraignment in Buffalo, where the killing occurred last year, and was released without bail. The charges in the death of 38-year-old James Huber are a rare example of a criminal case brought against an officer by the New York attorney general, who has the authority to investigate deadly use of force by police officers. law enforcement.
The president of the union that represents Nigro defended him saying that the murder was justified.
Police body camera video captured the deadly encounter on February 12, 2022.
Deputies first saw Huber, a North East, Pennsylvania resident, speeding on Interstate 90 near Buffalo and gave chase at speeds exceeding 100 mph (161 kph).
Pursuing officers broke off the pursuit after Huber’s vehicle left the highway, but Nigro caught up with Huber on a downtown Buffalo street and blocked his way with his patrol car.
Body camera footage released by the state attorney general’s office shows Nigro, a nearly 16-year veteran of the state police, holding his gun in front of him as he approaches the car. He orders Huber out, cursing him. Huber pulls away from the cop and says, “Go away,” and then “never” and “no,” as the cop continues to yell at him to get out of the car, his gun only inches from the motorist’s head.
Huber puts his hand on the car’s gear stick, as if to start it up. The cop pulls on the hood of Huber’s sweatshirt, then fires two shots and he falls to the ground as the car lurches backwards, briefly dragging him away.
The car backed out of camera range, crashed and landed on its side on a parking ramp.
Body camera footage shows Nigro running towards the car. He says over the radio: “The driver has been hit. I’m fine”.
Huber died of gunshot wounds at the scene. His death was investigated by Attorney General Letitia James, a Democrat, whose office filed the charges.
New York State Police Police Benevolent Association President Charles Murphy said in a statement that Nigro should not have faced criminal charges. He said Huber’s dangerous driving “threatened the safety of innocent motorists.”
“Our understanding and review of the facts in this case confirm that while the outcome was tragic, Officer Nigro’s actions were in accordance with his training and the law, and that his use of force was justified,” Murphy said.
State police said in a statement that the department has cooperated with the attorney general’s investigation and will continue to do so.
Cary Arnold, a Pennsylvania woman who has a daughter with Huber, told the Buffalo News that Huber may have been addressing a rally in support of Canadian truckers protesting COVID-19 vaccination mandates at the time of the shooting. .
2023-06-06 14:13:10
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