A former newcomer to the NYPD has been acquitted of murder in the 2020 shooting of his childhood friend during a heated argument.
Errick Allen, 30, was released Thursday after a jury only found him guilty of making threats in the May 12, 2020, shooting of his friend Christopher Curro, 25.
Allen was off duty when he opened fire on Curro on Long Island, and prosecutors argued he killed his elementary school friend “execution style” by shooting him five times in the head, neck and arm.
However, his defense successfully refuted that Curro had provoked Allen and attempted to grab his NYPD-issued weapon during a confrontation, labeling the shooting a “classic case of self-defense.”
Former rookie NYPD officer Errick Allen was acquitted of murder on Thursday in the 2020 shooting of his childhood friend
Christopher Curro was 25 years old when he was shot dead, which was reportedly caused by a heated argument with Allen
After a five-week trial, a jury acquitted Allen of murder and manslaughter.
Because the shooting involved a police officer, it was prosecuted by New York Attorney General Letitia James’ office, which provided evidence that the two men had been texting each other in an angry argument before the shooting.
The two men had grown up on the same block in North Massapequa, Long Island, and had been friends since they attended Albany Avenue Elementary School as children.
During the trial, the jury heard that Curro’s parents were frustrated with his use of marijuana while not attending school or working long hours, and they forced him to leave their home in November 2019. Newsday reported.
This prompted Curro to want to cut ties with his family, causing the family to keep in regular contact with Allen as they worried about their son during the pandemic.
However, the friends got into a heated argument about this dynamic when Curro became upset that Allen had shared his text messages with his family, according to trial testimony.
Text messages shown during the trial showed the two friends had furiously insulted each other, prompting them to arrange to meet on Langdon Road.
According to prosecutors, Allen then shot Curro execution-style twice in the head, twice in the neck and once in the arm, which Allen’s attorney said was caused by Curro trying to steal the officer’s NYPD-issued Glock firearm. to steal.
Allen is being led to court by authorities following his arrest in May 2020
The trial heard that Curro (pictured) had had an argument with Allen after his parents kicked him out because of his excessive marijuana use, and that he was angry that Allen continued to have contact with them.
Allen had been locked up since his indictment in August 2021 and because the threatened conviction only carries a maximum sentence of one year, he was released on time on Thursday.
After the verdict, Curro’s family was seen with their heads in their hands as they were shocked by the former officer’s acquittal.
Curro’s mother said she was angry and “very surprised” by the verdict, stressing that her son was unarmed when he was shot.
“Chris had no weapons,” she said Newsday. “My son only used his words, he didn’t use his weapons and he didn’t use his hands.
“This is very unfair what they (the jury) did,” she said, while Curro’s niece Rosa Maiorino added: “The system has failed us.”
When Allen was released, his stepfather Kyle Savas said, “This has shocked my family and I also understand that a life was lost here. I hope everyone can start healing. I hope the Curro family can find peace.”
Allen had only served with the NYPD for seven months when the shooting occurred. He was initially arrested in May 2020 and was released on bail before being indicted by a grand jury in August 2021 on charges of murder, manslaughter and menacing.
Although initially out on bail, he faced restrictions on his movement and living arrangements following a “mental breakdown” and suicide attempt in November 2020.
