Acquittal In Fatal White Castle Brawl

A man accused of beating an off-duty police officer during a 2006 fight at a Bronx White Castle was acquitted of assault charges. Daryl Massey, who had pleaded not guilty, insisted he never touched officer Eric Hernandez. Hernandez, who was taunted and beaten by a gang at the fast food restaurant, had drawn a gun and did not drop it when a responding officer asked him to. The responding officer fired at Hernandez, who later died of his injuries. A jury deliberated for three days before coming to their verdict. Patrolmen's Benevolent Association President Pat Lynch said, "We are outraged and disappointed that this cowardly thug who was part of a wolf pack that attacked officer Hernandez and set into motion a chain of events that led to the officer's tragic death will not be held responsible for his crime. Everyone who participated in any part of this unwarranted and brutal attack shares the responsibility for the death of a good police officer and deserves prison time as a result."

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By Jen Chung in News on March 25, 2009 5:42 PM

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Guest

"We are outraged and disappointed that these cowardly officers, who were part of a drug sting, attacked Sean Bell and set into motion a chain of bullets that led to his tragic death, will not be held responsible for their crimes. Everyone who participated in any part of this unwarranted and brutal attack shares the responsibility for the death of a decent citizen and deserves prison time as a result."

whitecastlerock

That White Castle is a cesspool, far worse than most others in the city. It is a tragedy what transpired there... Murder burgers will never be the same

JacqueMehoff

yeah because any hispanic with a gun is a bad gun and deserves to be shot.

SonnyBobiche

Are you a moron?

ANYONE with a gun, that doesn't drop it when ordered to is likely to get shot. Of course, in this case, the beaten officer may have been dazed and confused but the other cop would have stupid to take his chances.

The Edge

He was being sarcastic.

s0me_g0d

Right, because if you were responding to a dispute call and saw somebody pointing a gun at people, you'd calmly tell him to put it down. Better yet, you'd shoot the gun out of his hand, just like you saw in a movie once.

PTG in nyc

Ah the Patrolmen's Benevolent Association, mad that some guy who brawled with a drunk off duty cop didn't get assault charges, but not at all upset about the fact that the guy was shot and killed by another cop.

I've been to that White Castle and it's beyond shady (so shady that we heard gunshots in the near distance while wondering whether waiting at the drive through window was really worth it), and for once I might understand why a scared cop pulled the trigger even though he didn't have to.

This is no doubt a tragedy, but only the PBA has the nerve to point out that, "everyone who participated in any part of this unwarranted and brutal attack shares the responsibility for the death of a good police officer..." without reasoning why one of their own is not included in that broad description.