Results tagged “rafaellora”

Police officer Rafael Lora faces up to 15 years in prison after a judge found him guilty of second-degree manslaughter for a 2007 shooting. Lora was off-duty when he confronted a driver who crashed his minivan into other cars on a Bronx Street. Believing that Fermin Arzu was reaching for a gun—and claiming that Arzu hit him and that he was being dragged by the vehicle— Lora shot Arzu, who later died. The cop had opted for a bench trial, instead of a jury trial; his lawyer had said he "acted professionally and was justified on the night in question."

A judge is deliberating the fate of a police officer who, while off-duty, fatally shot a drunk driver outside his home in the Bronx. In May 2007, cop Rafael Lora confronted Fermin Arzu, who had just crashed his minivan into other cars on the street. Believing that Arzu was reaching for a gun—and claiming that Arzu hit him and that he was being dragged by the vehicle— Lora shot Arzu, who later died. Prosecutors say Lora was free when he fired at Arzu. Lora, who opted for a bench trial, does not face jail time because Bronx prosecutors lowered the charges from first-degree manslaughter to second-degree manslaughter, which carries 11 years probation. Lora testified he was so upset that he couldn't even call 911. Arzu's family's lawyer said, "Frankly rather than acting like a heroic officer to render aid, [Lora] acted with a chicken heart."