Records: Accused Figoski shooter was sorry
Lamont Pride, the accused shooter in the murder of Det. Peter Figoski, appears in Brooklyn Supreme Court, December 20th 2011. Credit: Joe Marino
The accused killer of NYPD Det. Peter J. Figoski told cops a day after his capture that he was "sorry" and "didn't mean" to have it happen, according to court filings released Wednesday in State Supreme Court in Brooklyn.
"I sorry for what I did," accused shooter Lamont Pride allegedly told police who were taking him to Central Booking on Dec. 13.
"I didn't mean for this to happen. I didn't want to kill a cop. It went wrong and I'm sorry. I can't take it back," the filings say.
Pride, 27, of North Carolina, and four other men are charged with killing the 22-year NYPD veteran from West Babylon.
On Dec. 12, Figoski, 47, responded to an attempted robbery of a drug dealer in East New York, Brooklyn.
Figoski confronted Pride as he fled the scene, police said.
Pride, according to reports of his interrogation, initially told police that he hadn't been involved in the drug robbery and that his gun went off by accident when he fell.
Later, reports said, he admitted his involvement, and said he was knocked down by another defendant, Kevin Santos, while trying to flee, and then confronted by a cop when he got up.
"I tried to run by skipping 1st step," Pride said, according to police notes. "Officer comes toward him on steps. I was scared. I clutched both hands. . . . Fires the gun."
Pride's lawyer declined to comment on the reported statements.
Pride's statements were included in a thick sheaf of police reports disclosed by prosecutors as the five defendants appeared in shackles in the Brooklyn courtroom for the scheduling of motions and the handover of videotaped statements to their lawyers.
The other four defendants in the case are all from Queens -- Santos, 30, nicknamed "Luck"; Ariel Tejada, 22, nicknamed "A"; Nelson Morales, 27, nicknamed "Nels"; and Michael Velez, 21, nicknamed "Trouble."
Pride has been charged with first-degree murder. The other four were charged with second-degree murder. All of the defendants have pleaded not guilty.
Their next scheduled court appearance is April 19.
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