October 18, 2016, Bronx woman Deborah Danner, 66, was shot in her apartment after police stormed in following a neighbor’s complaint. Sergeant Hugh Barry, 31, was charged on May 31, 2016 for her murder in the second-degree. He faces additional charges of first and second-degree manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide.
The night of her death, a neighbor called to report the noise of a woman screaming in the hallways of a Castle Hill building. Officers and paramedics showed up at her apartment and Barry went to investigate and found her in her bedroom holding a pair of scissors. They were alone in the room when Barry allegedly persuaded her to let go of the scissors then she grabbed a bat and attempted to swing at him. Barry went straight to his gun and shot her twice.
The Sergeant had not gone through the same training that the Emergency Service Unit has in de-escalation tactics. He had a stun gun on him that he could have, but did not use. Other alternatives could have been retreating or working with others to hold her down.
The victim allegedly battled with a history of schizophrenia.
Though he pleaded not-guilty, if convicted for the highest charge, the sergeant could face life in prison.
The prosecution stated, “Barry disregarded his training from the New York City Police Department in dealing with emotionally disturbed persons.”
Mayor Bill de Balasio proclaimed, “It should have never happened. It’s as simple as that: it should never have happened. The NYPD’s job is to protect life.”
Meanwhile, as of today, the GoFundMe page set up on Barry’s behalf has raised nearly $115,000.
All persons are assumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Tags: Bronx, NYPD, murder,
Photo: Courtesy of Facebook
