Rafael Lora (WPIX-TV / June 11, 2009)
NEW YORK ( WPIX) -- A former New York City police officer convicted of shooting an unarmed man to death was sentenced Thursday to a maximum of three years in prison.
Ex- NYPD cop Rafael Lora, who was convicted in April, could have faced anything from community service to 15 years in prison for his role in the fatal shooting of Fermin Arzu.
According to investigators, the shooting happened when a drunken Arzu crashed his minivan into a parked car outside of Lora's home on May 18, 2007. The off-duty officer said he came out of his home and raced after Arzu's vehicle. When he approached the minivan, he said he asked Arzu for his identification. Lora claims he was forced to open fire on Arzu, when the Honduran immigrant stepped on the gas and took off, dragging the cop down the street.
After Lora's sentencing, Arzu's family expressed disappointment in the lenient sentence, but nonetheless were grateful that justice was served.
"Even though I didn't get the exact sentence I wanted, I feel happy because it's going to prevent other families from going through the same thing that I'm going through," Katherine Arzu, the victim's daughter told reporters outside of court..
As for Lora, who was fired from the NYPD after the fatal shooting, he remains free on bail pending the outcome of his appeal.
Ex- NYPD cop Rafael Lora, who was convicted in April, could have faced anything from community service to 15 years in prison for his role in the fatal shooting of Fermin Arzu.
According to investigators, the shooting happened when a drunken Arzu crashed his minivan into a parked car outside of Lora's home on May 18, 2007. The off-duty officer said he came out of his home and raced after Arzu's vehicle. When he approached the minivan, he said he asked Arzu for his identification. Lora claims he was forced to open fire on Arzu, when the Honduran immigrant stepped on the gas and took off, dragging the cop down the street.
After Lora's sentencing, Arzu's family expressed disappointment in the lenient sentence, but nonetheless were grateful that justice was served.
"Even though I didn't get the exact sentence I wanted, I feel happy because it's going to prevent other families from going through the same thing that I'm going through," Katherine Arzu, the victim's daughter told reporters outside of court..
As for Lora, who was fired from the NYPD after the fatal shooting, he remains free on bail pending the outcome of his appeal.
