Rookie NYPD cop, 27, is indicted and jailed in shooting death of his childhood friend during an argument while he was off-duty
NYPD officer Errick Allen was only with the department for seven months before being terminated after the crime
A rookie NYPD cop accused of shooting his childhood friend to death with his service weapon while off-duty last year was indicted by a grand jury and arraigned Friday on Long Island.
Errick Allen, of North Massapequa, appeared before Judge Francis Ricigliano of the Nassau County Court, and is now back in custody.
The 28-year-old, who was with the New York City Police Department for just seven months prior to the fatal shooting, was arrested and charged in May 2020 immediately following the crime.
According to a new grand jury indictment, he is now charged with second-degree murder, first-degree manslaughter and menacing in connection to the shooting death of Christopher Curro, 25, of West Babylon.
James' office reports that Allen and Curro had been friends since childhood, however text exchanges on their cell phones revealed the two were arguing.
Allen is accused of killing Curro May 12, 2020 in Farmingdale, shooting him five times at close range, including twice in the head, with his NYPD service weapon.
Allen initially fled, but returned later and was apprehended by police. Curro was unarmed, according to New York State Attorney General Letitia James' office.
Christopher Curro was 25-years-old when he was shot to death by his childhood friend and NYPD officer Errick Allen back in May 2020
Allen being walked to court by authorities after his May 2020 arrest
'We trust our police officers to protect the safety of New Yorkers, but instead, this defendant allegedly betrayed that duty and used his service weapon to end another man’s life,' said James.
Allen had been out on bail following his May 2020 arrest, however the conditions changed after he was hospitalized following a 'mental breakdown,' according to Acting State Supreme Court Justice Robert Schwartz. He threatened to kill himself in November of last year, Newsday reported at the time.
He was not allowed to leave the state, and had a curfew of 7pm. He was ordered to live at his parents' home.
Allen and Curro were longtime friends since childhood
Schwartz ordered Allen to continue psychiatric treatment, with reports on his mental health provided monthly to the court.
But after the grand jury indictment on Friday, the judge Friday ultimately remanded him back into police custody.
The disgraced rookie was first suspended by the NYPD, then terminated by the department a short time later.
It is still unclear what the nature of their argument was, according to James' office.
Allen is due back in court September 23, 2021. Murder in the second degree carries a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in prison.