It took a Brooklyn jury just three hours yesterday to convict a coldblooded gangbanger of shooting a cop in the head.
The cop, NYPD Sgt. Kevin Brennan, subtly pumped his fist, nodded and smiled as each “guilty” verdict was read off. Then he kissed his sobbing wife’s hand and breathed a sigh of relief.
The jury found Luis “Baby” Ortiz, 23, guilty on 12 counts including murder (for the shooting of drug dealer Shannon McKinney), attempted murder, robbery, criminal possession of a weapon and aggravated assault.
“The jury said all that was needed to be said today: ‘Guilty,’ ” said a Brennan relative who declined to give his name.
The Latin Kings gang member didn’t seem so tough once he realized he would be locked up for as much as 25 years to life. He obscured his face with his hands, and his legs shook nervously as the verdicts were read.
Ortiz fired on Brennan at point-blank range after a wild chase through the Bushwick Houses in Brooklyn on Jan. 31, 2012. Despite a gunshot wound to the head, Brennan made a miraculous recovery.
Outside court, Brennan embraced relatives and his brothers cheered.
“It’s a very emotional day. Justice was served,” said Assistant DA Lewis Lieberman.