The partner of slain NYPD cop Peter Figoski choked up in court yesterday as he testified in the trial of two Brooklyn men accused in the botched robbery that led to the fatal shooting.
“I heard a loud noise, like a door slamming,” said retired Detective Glenn Estrada, describing the moment his partner was shot in the face. “I heard a scream, like a surprised scream.”
Alleged crew ringleader Nelson Morales, 28, and pothead Kevin Santos, 32, are on trial in Brooklyn Supreme Court for burglary and felony murder for their roles in the East New York shooting.
Estrada recounted for the second time in three months how he released a fleeing Santos in order to chase down shooter Lamont Pride, who was convicted in his own trial in February.
Once Pride was collared and cuffed, Estrada sprinted alone back to the row house where his partner lay dying.
“I had a bad feeling something happened,” Estrada said, tears in his eyes and his voice husky with emotion.
“They were wheeling Pete out on a stretcher . . . It was mayhem. They were bringing the stretcher out, and our priority was to get him into the ambulance,” Estrada said, holding his hand to his head to show the Brooklyn Supreme Court jury where his partner had been shot.
During his cross-examination Santos defense attorney Harold Baker – who earlier this week said his client only accompanied the other men to the robbery because he wanted to buy marijuana – grilled Estrada with an eye towards poking holes in his account.
“You had no idea how this guy had got past your partner Peter Figoski?” Baker said.
“No idea, no,” Estrada answered.
Figoski brother Robert and daughter Caitlyn sat stoically through the trial alongside about a dozen cops.
Pride was sentenced to 45 years to life in February, while accused getaway driver Michael Velez was acquitted on all counts.
The fifth member of the crew, Ariel Tejada, 24, will testify against Morales and Santos in exchange for a plea deal that will get him just 18 years in prison.
The trial will continue Monday morning.