FORMER NEW YORK CITY POLICE OFFICER SENTENCED TO PRISON
FOR MANSLAUGHTER IN THE SHOOTING DEATH OF HONDURAN IMMIGRANT
Bronx District Attorney Robert T. Johnson announced today that former New York City Police Office Raphael Lora was sentenced to a maximum term of up to three years in prison for the fatal shooting of Fermin Arzu, a 41-year-old Honduran immigrant.
Lora, a 39 year-old Bronx resident, was found guilty of Manslaughter in the 2nd degree on April 3, 2009 by State Supreme Court Justice Margaret Clancy following a non-jury trial.
The People recommended that Lora receive a prison term of 2 to 6 years, however Judge Clancy sentenced him to 1 to 3 years imprisonment and allowed him to remain free on a $50,000 personal recognizance bond pending the outcome of an appeal of the conviction. Lora, who was off duty at the time was terminated following his conviction in April.
The judge found that Lora “recklessly caused the death” of Arzu when he shot and killed the victim, who was driving near the intersection of Longwood Avenue and Hewitt Place shortly before midnight on May 18, 2007. Lora was acquitted of the more serious charge of Manslaughter in the 1st degree which alleged that he had acted with “intent to cause serious physical injury” to the victim and thereby caused his death.
The case was prosecuted by Senior Investigative Assistant District Attorney Larry Hartstein and Supervising Assistant District Attorney James Goward of the Investigations Division.
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