Former police officer sentenced for lying under oath about 2009 police-involved shooting
Danny Acosta, 46, will serve five years' probation and pay a $2,500 fine for attempting to cover up the fact that he shot Peter Colon in the back at point-blank range. Colon was 17 years old at the time.
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Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark says a former NYPD officer was sentenced for lying under oath about details surrounding a 2009 police-involved shooting.
Danny Acosta, 46, will serve five years' probation and pay a $2,500 fine for attempting to cover up the fact that he shot Peter Colon in the back at point-blank range. Colon was 17 years old at the time.
"This defendant told a Bronx grand jury in 2009 that he shot the teen from a distance away in defense of his partner, but later during civil litigation, a laboratory report unequivocally concluded that the bullet that was fired into Peter Colon's back was discharged at point-blank range," said Clark.
The DA's office says it asked for Acosta to be sentenced to multiple years behind bars.
Acosta and his partner, Laura Barbato, responded to a Bronx building on Oct. 4, where they encountered Colon armed in a stairwell.
According to court documents, Acosta told investigators that Colon had a gun to Barbato's head at the time of the shooting and later testified that he was "a couple steps down" from the 17-year-old. Acosta claimed that he, his partner and the teen were all standing at the time.
A lab report by the New York City Police Department's Trace Analysis Unit challenged Acosta's version of events. The report concluded that Colon was shot in the back at a very close range.
Colon testified that he was face down on the ground when Acosta put his knee on his back, pressed the gun against him and fired.
A jury found Acosta guilty of perjury, tampering with public records and official misconduct on April 24.
"It took 16 years but finally truth and justice won out," said Clark.
