July 28, 2011 11:05

First Indicted Officer Testifies in Danziger Bridge Trial

Yesterday, former NOPD Robert Faulcon testified that within a span of four seconds, he arrived at the Danziger Bridge, assessed the scene, saw two male civilians with handguns and began firing his weapon.

Faulcon is the first of the five officers on trial to testify in his own defense. "I feel horrible because of the fact, you know, in that split second when I saw guns, I might have been right or I might have been wrong," he said. "My heart goes out to the people that were hurt. At that time, when I saw guns, I felt my actions were justified based on what I saw in that split second."

But under cross-examination by prosecutors, Faulcon admitted to firing a shotgun towards civilians that may have been unarmed and to fatally shooting an unarmed man in the back. He also said other officers continued to shoot despite the lack of threat, and acknowledged a cover-up.

Read more about yesterday's testimony from our partners at the Times-Picayune.