Opening statements were made in court Monday in the case of an NYPD officer accused of gunning down a Brooklyn father in an apparent case of road rage.
Family and friends of Delrawn Small filled the courtroom as they once again relived the moments of that July 4 summer night. Small, 37, was fatally shot by off-duty officer Wayne Isaacs on Atlantic Avenue in East New York back in 2016.
“I didn’t think it could be harder, but I can imagine that this is going to be way harder,” said Victoria Dempsey, sister of Small, after being brought to tears during the first day of trail.
Surveillance footage appears to show Small approaching the car of Isaacs and instantly being blasted several times by Isaacs as he sat in his vehicle. He then stumbles and collapses between two cars. Small, unarmed at the time, had been shot while his girlfriend and two children looked on from inside his car.
Isaacs proceeded to exit his car, neglecting to provide any aid to Small, but he did call 911 alleging that he had just been attacked and punched in the face by Small.
“This defendant pulled out his gun and fired three bullets into Delrawn Small’s body,” Prosecutor Jose Nieves said. “The defendant pulled out his gun and pulled the trigger, not once, not twice, but three times. In one second he shot Mr. Small three times, and ended his life in front of his family.”
Isaacs’ attorney, Stephen Worth, stands by his client’s notion that this wasn’t a case of road rage but rather self-defense. He insists that Isaacs feared for his life and acted as any trained officer would.
Victor Dempsey, the brother of Small, was seen visibly frustrated as his exited the courthouse that afternoon. Dempsey, who has received the support of several local activist organizations, has been at the forefront of the continuous fight for justice for his brother.
“I’m just so tired of it all,” said Dempsey. “It’s stressful because we have to hear the depiction of what happened over and over again from all these point of views. It’s one thing preparing for it, but now that it’s here, you kind of want it to be over with. I know he’s guilty, but to sit in court and relive everything from someone else’s opinion—it sucks.”
One year later and the family of Small is still having a hard time coping with his death Dempsey said.
“Everyone’s messed up, they’re mentally all over the place,” he said.
Zaquanna Albert, girlfriend of Small, who witnessed the fatal shooting of her boyfriend, took the stand Wednesday afternoon as she struggled to fight back tears during her testimony. Albert testified that Small was in a good mood that evening at the family barbecue they were attending. They joked and laughed on the car ride home.
Isaacs is being charged with second-degree murder and first-degree manslaughter. He faces 25 years to life if convicted.