On August 16, 2016 the New York Law Journal reported that the family of Akai Gurley who was shot in a dark stairwell in a Brooklyn Housing project by a NYC police officer had settled their wrongful death claim against the City of New York, the NYC Housing Authority and Police Officer Liang for $4.5 million dollars. Officer Liang was patrolling the interior stairwell of a housing project in East New York with another rookie cop. Tragically, the police officer accidentally discharged a round from his 9mm Glock, which ricocheted off a wall and struck the heart of 28 year old Akai Gurley, who left behind a 4 year old daughter.

A jury found Officer Liang guilty of manslaughter in Gurley's death which was reduced by the Trial Judge to criminally negligent homicide. This settlement is somewhat similar to the January 2015 $3.9 million settlement awarded to a family of a Bronx teenager who was shot in his home by police; and, the $5.9 million settlement with the family of Eric Garner in July 2015 who died after being restrained by a police officer who used an illegal chokehold.