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Protester Gives Dramatic Ending to Gray Press Conference

Aired August 20, 2001 - 12:26   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: More now for you on that news conference, officer Joseph Gray in New York City.

Let's bring in our Jason Carroll, who's been following that story.

Jason, I guess our viewers missed a lot of the good stuff that happened after we cut away.

JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, as soon as we did cut away, Daryn, a very dramatic ending to the press conference. As you said, this was a press conference for officer Joseph Gray, the New York police officer charged in the August 4th accident in which a family was killed. Officer Gray, with his wife by his side, Diana in the process of giving his point of view, and I want you to watch what happened next. One single protester burst inside the room. Take a look at what happened next.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAVID GALARZA, PROTESTER: No bail for a drunk killer cop! Have you no decency! Have you no decency? You killed four people! Have you expressed no remorse? You are going to go back to your family today. Victor Herrera will never have that chance -- you killed four people!

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CARROLL: That protester identified himself as David Galarza. A friend of the victims' family. As all this was happening, officer Gray sat at the front desk with his wife, Diana. He appeared to be very upset as the folks who organized this tried to get the situation under control.

Just to recap for you a little bit, officer Joseph Gray is charged with three counts of manslaughter in that DWI accident involving a family that was killed. Maria Herrera, as you said, she was eight months pregnant. He 4-year-old son, Andy, and her sister, Dulcia, all were killed. After the accident, there were at least a dozen police officers who were disciplined at Officer Joseph Gray's precinct for drinking with Gray during the day of the accident, or failing to supervise those who were drinking with Gray.

Also during the press conference, Gray said that he was very critical of the police department. He felt they were overreacting to this accident. He also took a moment to apologize to the victims' family.

I'm Jason Carroll reporting live from New York. Daryn, back to you.

KAGAN: Jason, thank you very much.

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