NYC Cop Kills Drug Dealer

Days after a controversial jury verdict acquitted four police officers in the shooting of Amadou Diallo, an officer shot and killed a paroled drug dealer just three blocks from Diallo's home.

Although news of police shooting another unarmed man drew more than 100 angry protesters to the streets, the victim's criminal history quickly distinguished the shooting from the Diallo slaying. This time, the suspect was carrying heroin and fleeing police.

Officer Louis Rivera was one of several Street Narcotics Unit officers patrolling the neighborhood. They had three suspects up against a wall around 6:20 p.m. when one of the suspects fled.

Police say 23-year-old Malcolm Ferguson was a convicted drug dealer with at least nine prior arrests on his record.

Rivera and three other plainclothes cops chased him, and when Rivera caught up, a struggle ensued on Boynton Avenue.

The officer's nine millimeter gun discharged once, and Ferguson was shot in the head. It's not immediately clear if the officer fired intentionally or if his weapon went off accidentally, but the shot appeared to have been fired at close range because blood was found on Rivera's firearm.

Ferguson was dead at the scene. Rivera was taken to a local hospital for trauma.

Police say Ferguson was on parole and had had several envelopes containing heroin.