Peter Figoski
CREEPY CRAWLER: Lamont Pride (above) describes the slaying of Peter Figoski (inset). (
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The brute accused of gunning down hero NYPD cop Peter Figoski was in court yesterday, watching the video statements he made to investigators in the hours after the fatal shooting — including one where he pantomimed an elaborate fall he claimed caused the gun to go off.
Lamont Pride, 28, will stand trial on first-degree murder charges for the Dec. 12, 2011, murder in East New York.
The videos were played as part of a pretrial hearing to determine whether prosecutors can show the video confessions to the jury when the trial begins.
Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Alan Marrus is expected to decide that issue today.
“I clutched my body to try to run him over,” Pride said in the most damning statement. “I clutched the gun at the same time instead of letting it go.”
In an earlier video statement, Pride said he struggled with Figoski and the gun went off after he tripped and fell down — which he acted out for investigators on the floor of the interview room.
“I pull, he pull. I push, he push,” Pride said in the earlier statement.
Pride’s first statement made the shooting sound like a complete accident. He admitted more responsibility in later statements. All three statements were played in court yesterday.
When Pride, who faces life in prison if convicted, was first led into court, he turned and brought his fists together in a greeting to his brother.
NYPD Detective Glenn Estrada, Figoski’s partner at the time of the shooting, also testified yesterday.
“There looked to be a gun in his right hand,” Estrada said, speaking of when he saw Pride run down the street away from the shooting.
After catching Pride, “I ran back to the scene,” Estrada said stoically. “I saw my partner, Peter Figoski, on a stretcher.”
Pride has been charged with first-degree murder and faces life in prison.
Four other men involved in the home invasion that led to Figoski’s death — Kevin Santos, 31, Ariel Tejada, 23, Nelson Morales, 28, and Michael Velez, 22 — were charged with second-degree murder and face 25 years to life.
Pride and Velez will stand trial together beginning later this month. The other men will be tried later.
Pride has admitted he and Morales planned the robbery of a drug dealer who lived in the basement of Morales’ uncle’s house.