Queens Man Indicted in Death of Brian Moore

A Queens man was indicted Thursday in the death of a New York City Police officer from Massapequa, according to the Queens District Attorney’s office.

Demetrius Blackwell, 35, of Queens Village, was formally charged with the murder of Brian Moore, 25, and the attempted murder of Officer Erik Jansen, 30, the DA said.

The charges are part of a 12-count indictment that includes aggravated murder, first- and second-degree murder, attempted aggravated murder, second- and first-degree attempted murder, second- and third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, unlawful possession of marihuana, petit larceny and fifth-degree criminal possession of stolen property, officials said.

Blackwell pleaded not guilty in court Thursday, officials said. If convicted of the top count, Blackwell faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison, the DA said.

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Queens DA Richard Brown called Blackwell’s actions a “direct attack on society,” saying, “the law and reminds us of the dangers that our police officers face each day – and the ultimate sacrifice theymay be called upon to make – as they carry out their sworn duty to protect and serve our communities.”

The indictment includes charges that Blackwell stole a t-shirt and a pair of sneakers before he was apprehended by police, the DA said. Also included are drug charges stemming from his arrest, when he was found in possession of cocaine and marijuana, officials said.

Moore and Jansen were inside an unmarked police car on the evening of May 2 when they approached a man who was ”walking and adjusting an object in his waistband,” NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton said this weekend.

When the plainclothes officers, who were still inside their car, told the man to stop, he opened fire and struck Moore in the face. Jansen reportedly escaped unharmed.

Moore lost his life two days after the shooting.

Moore joined NYPD in 2010 and was part of the 105th Precinct’s anti-crime team. In his short career, Moore received two exceptional police service medals and two meritorious police service medals, honors Bratton said they “don’t give out easily.” The officer made more than 150 arrests while at NYPD and had “proved himself to be an exceptional young officer,” Bratton added.

Moore also came from a “police family,” Bratton said. The Long Islander’s father and uncle are retired NYPD sergeants.

Moore was posthumously promoted to detective on the day of his funeral, which drew 30,000 members of law enforcement from across the continent.