QUEENS — Relatives of the man accused of killing an NYPD officer over the weekend offered their condolences to family of the slain officer Tuesday.
Demetrius Blackwell, 35, shot Officer Brian Moore, 25, in the head in Queens Village on Saturday, police said. The wounded officer died on Monday afternoon.
"For years, our family tried to help Demetrius lead a more productive and law abiding life," said Kory Blackwell, a former cornerback who played with the New York Giants, the Cleveland Browns and the NFL who is Demetrius' cousin. "My heart goes out to the family for their tragic loss.”
"There are no words strong enough to convey my sorrow over what has cast a devastating shadow over many lives," he said. "The Blackwell family does not and never has condoned violence in any form."
Blackwell's multiple arrests date back to 1995 for crimes including assault, robbery and weapons possession, police said. He was convicted of attempted murder after shooting at a car following a robbery in July 2000, according to records.
During the five years he was incarcerated, Blackwell was disciplined 18 times for violations including assault on staffers and assault on an inmate, correctional records show.
He was released in August 2005, but returned to prison in March 2007 for another year-long stretch after violating his parole, records show.
The handgun Blackwell used to shoot Officer Moore was one of 23 weapons stolen from Little's Bait & Tackle & Pawn in Perry, Ga., police said.
In 2011, thieves stole 23 weapons and some jewelry from the shop. Just a few weeks later, burglars hit up the pawn shop again, making off with another 12 guns. Perry police thought the two incidents were related but never made any arrests for either burglary, though one man was apprehended with a stolen ring, said Captain Heath Dykes.
Nell Little, 56, works at Bait & Tackle & Pawn when her brother-in-law Clarence, the owner, is out of town. Little said she was blindsided by the two back-to-back burglaries in 2011.
"The first one I was just shocked. The second [time] I couldn't believe it happened within six weeks," Little said. "We don't get much of that around here too often."
Nine of the stolen weapons, including the one police found in a backyard near Saturday's crime scene, have since been recovered by the NYPD. One more gun was confiscated by police in New England, police said.
Five were recovered during the course of investigations, three were confiscated during arrests, police said.
Services for the slain officer will be held the afternoon of Thursday, May 7 at Chapey & Sons Funeral Home in Bethpage.
Officer Moore's funeral is scheduled for 11 a.m. Friday at St. James R.C. Church in Hicksville, followed by his burial at St. Charles R.C. Cemetery in Farmingdale.
