Trial: African Man Shot at "Point Blank Range" by Scared New York Officer - Selling Bootlegg CD's

In the seconds before he fired, Officer Bryan Conroy was face to face and in physical contact with his unarmed West African-immigrant victim, Conroy said in grand-jury testimony read aloud yesterday in his Manhattan manslaughter trial. Still, the muzzle of his gun was 19 inches away as he squeezed off the first two shots, Conroy told grand jurors. And the two men remained face to face as Conroy continued firing, Conroy told grand jurors — a detail that could come back to haunt him when his current jury ponders the fatal bullet that entered the victim's back near his right armpit. Artisan Ousmane Zongo, 42, died of two fatal wounds to his chest and the one to his back — wounds Manhattan prosecutors say were inflicted recklessly. A fourth bullet skimmed his upper right arm — again from back to front. "Did he ever twist his body so he was no longer facing the muzzle of your weapon?" asked prosecutor Armand Durastanti in grand jury testimony, given a week after the May 2002 shooting at the Chelsea Mini Storage facility. "No," Conroy answered. "Are you sure of that?" the prosecutor asked. "Positive," Conroy answered. Conroy did describe Zongo twisting his back as he fell to his hands and knees after the third and fourth shots. The prosecution may rest its case by today or early tomorrow. Among the final witnesses are the doctor who frantically tried to save Zongo's life, and the uncle who identified his body. [more]