Suspect Nicknamed 'Hellraiser' Indicted for Fatal Shooting of Plainclothes NYPD Officer

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A New York City man accused of shooting a plainclothes police officer last month was handed a 12-count indictment on Thursday that includes a charge of first-degree murder.

Demetrius Blackwell, 35, was arrested several hours after allegedly gunning down NYPD officer Brian Moore on May 2 in Flushing, Queens. Blackwell, who reportedly goes by the nickname "Hellraiser," was previously charged with first-degree attempted murder, aggravated assault on a police officer, first-degree assault, and weapons possession. Blackwell has also been charged with the attempted murder of Moore's partner Erik Jansen.

"The defendant's alleged conduct and his total disregard of the law and authority clearly demonstrate that he is a serious threat to society," Queens County District Attorney Richard Brown said, according to Reuters. Blackwell's arraignment is expected to occur Thursday afternoon at the New York Supreme Court.

Authorities say Moore was shot when he and Jansen approached Blackwell in an unmarked police vehicle because the suspect had suspiciously adjusted his belt, suggesting he might have a handgun. Moore reportedly identified himself as a police officer and asked "Do you have something in your waistband?" Blackwell allegedly responded, "Yeah, I got something," before firing three rounds, hitting Moore twice in the head and putting him in a coma. He died two days later. Blackwell's attorney has denied the charges.

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Moore was the first New York cop killed in the line of duty since the fatal shooting ambush of two NYPD officers last December in Brooklyn. That attack was apparently motivated by the recent high-profile police killings of unarmed black suspects, including the cases of Michael Brown in Ferguson, and Eric Garner on Staten Island, but there's been no indication that these incidents played any part in Blackwell's alleged shooting of Moore.

Blackwell's murder charge carries a maximum sentence of life in prison without parole. Blackwell has an extensive criminal record that includes several previous encounters with the NYPD, and a five-year stretch in prison for attempted murder. According to medical records reviewed by the Wall Street Journal, Blackwell suffered a traumatic brain injury when he was 15, and he has been diagnosed with a rare epilepsy-associated condition that resembles schizophrenia and can cause paranoia and delusions.

At the time of Moore's shooting, the Queens County prosecutor released a statement that said the incident "reminds us of the dangers that our police officers face each day as they carry out their sworn duty to protect and serve our communities." New York City Police Commissioner Bill Bratton said Moore was an "exceptional young officer" who had been awarded several service medals.

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