Security camera footage has been released that captured the fatal shooting of a Washington, D.C., special police officer during a training session last year.
Maurica Manyan worked as a special police officer at the Anacostia Library and was attending ASP Baton training there on Aug. 4, 2022, when the shooting happened. The training was conducted by Jesse Porter, a retired D.C. police lieutenant working as a private contractor.
RELATED:
- D.C. Special Police Officer Fatally Shot During Training
- Learning the Hard Way: Keeping Use-of-Force Training Safe
In the video, Manyan and the other people in the session were gathering for a photo after the training, WTTG-TV reports. As Manyan turned to remove her mask, Porter suddenly approached the group, drew his gun and fired a shot.
Manyan was struck in the chest. She was rushed to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
After the shooting, the footage shows Porter in shock and putting his hands on top of his head. According to his attorney, Porter thought the live weapon was a training gun.
"He did not have any criminal intent, that it was not his intent to cause any harm to her on that day. He's acknowledged that what it is that he did was negligent. But it wasn't criminal. but he also accepted responsibility," said Brian McDaniel, Porter’s attorney.
Porter was initially charged with involuntary manslaughter in the shooting. He was later indicted by a grand jury, and the manslaughter charge was upgraded to second-degree murder, according to The Washington Post.
Porter pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and unlawful discharge of a firearm. He was sentenced to three years in prison last month.
The D.C. Metro Special Police Department is a private law enforcement agency authorized by the district.
