A former rookie NYPD officer has been acquitted of murder in the 2020 shooting death of his childhood friend during a heated argument.
Errick Allen, 30, was set free on Thursday after a jury only found him guilty of menacing in the May 12, 2020, shooting of his friend Christopher Curro, 25.
Allen was off-duty when he opened fire on Curro in Long Island, and prosecutors argued that he killed his elementary school friend ‘execution style’ as he shot him four times in the head, neck and arm.
However, his defense successfully countered that Curro had provoked Allen and tried to grab his NYPD-issued gun during a confrontation, branding the shooting a ‘classic case of self-defense.’
Former rookie NYPD officer Errick Allen was acquitted of murder on Thursday over the 2020 shooting death of his childhood friend
Christopher Curro was 25-years-old when he was shot to death, which was said to have been triggered by a heated argument with Allen
Following a five-week trial, a jury acquitted Allen on murder and manslaughter charges.
He had been locked up since his indictment in August 2021, and because the menacing conviction only carries a maximum sentence of one year, he was released Thursday on time served.
Following the verdict, Curro’s family were seen holding their heads in their hands as they were shocked by the former cop’s acquittal.
Curro’s mother said she was angry and ‘very surprised’ by the verdict, and stressed that her son was unarmed when he was shot dead.
‘Chris had no weapons,’ she told Newsday. ‘My son only used his words, he didn’t use his weapons and he didn’t sue his hands.’
As Allen was released from custody, his stepfather Kyle Savas said: ‘This has rocked my family and I also understand that a life was lost here. I hope everyone can begin healing. I hope the Curro family can find peace.’
Allen had served just seven months in the NYPD when the shooting unfolded. He was initially arrested in May 2020, and was out on bail before being indicted by a grand jury in August 2021 on charges of murder, manslaughter and menacing.
Although he had initially been out on bail, he was hit with restrictions on his movement and living situation after a ‘mental breakdown’ and suicide attempt in November 2020.
Allen being walked to court by authorities after his May 2020 arrest
Because the shooting involved a police officer, it was prosecuted by New York Attorney General Letitia James’ office, which produced evidence that the two men had been texting each other in a furious argument before the shooting.