Witness Says Officer’s ‘Gun!’ Yell Preceded Diallo’s Killing

ALBANY, N.Y. — The first eyewitness to take the stand in the Amadou Diallo murder case testified Wednesday that she heard a policeman yell “Gun!” before he and three other officers shot the unarmed man to death.

But the witness backfired on the defense when she testified that police officers continued to shoot the unarmed black immigrant after he had fallen to the ground.

Defense attorneys had called Schrrie Elliott to the stand in the hope her testimony would support the white officers’ contention they believed that Diallo, who was black, had pulled a gun.

But on cross-examination, Elliot said that she watched from across the street as four plainclothes New York City police officers cornered Diallo and opened fire.

“They continued shooting while [Diallo] was down?” prosecutor Donald Levin asked.

“Yes,” Elliot replied tearfully.

Elliott said she saw the shooting as she walked by after midnight in the Bronx last February.

Officers Kenneth Boss, 28, Sean Carroll, 36, Edward McMellon, 27, and Richard Murphy, 27, are charged with murder and could get 25 years to life in prison.

The defense argues that Diallo refused orders to halt, then pulled out a black wallet that appeared to be a gun.

It also argues the officers’ high-powered pistols fired fast enough for Diallo to stay on his feet, possibly against a wall, throughout the shooting.

But Elliott’s testimony undercut those contentions.

“Did you hear anyone yell, ‘Stop!’ or ‘Freeze!’ or ‘Show your hands!’?” Levin asked her.

“No,” Elliot replied.

“You don’t know who said ‘Gun!’ do you?” the prosecutor asked.

“No,” she said.