Ex-NYPD cop who lied about circumstances of shooting teen suspect avoids prison: DA

Nypost · Jun 09, 2026 · 666 words · By Sofia Poznansky; David Propper

Judicial Leniency Police misconduct Criminal Justice System Integrity

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What to know about Judicial Leniency

Ex-NYPD cop who lied about circumstances of shooting teen suspect avoids prison: DA See more of our coverage in your search results.

Claims checked 10

Techniques found 2

Topics 3

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage

Left17%

Center66%

Right17%

6 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

Ex-NYPD cop who lied about circumstances of shooting teen suspect avoids prison: DA See more of our coverage in your search results.

Why it matters

Add The New York Post on GoogleA former NYPD officer convicted of lying about how he shot a teen suspect in a Bronx hallway more than a decade ago defended pulling the trigger as he evaded prison time Monday.

Common ground

Danny Acosta received only probation and was fined $2,500 by Judge Seth Steed over the objections of Bronx prosecutors who sought at least two years after he was found guilty of perjury in connection with the 2009 shooting.

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language, Appeal to Anger: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

Follow-up questions

What new context would change how readers understand this Judicial Leniency story?
What evidence would most clearly confirm or weaken the claim that His first trial ended in a mistrial?
How does this story connect Judicial Leniency with Police misconduct over the next few days?

open_in_new Read the original article: https://nypost.com/2026/06/09/us-news/ex-nypd-cop-who-lied-about-circumstances-o…

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 2 propaganda techniques in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning

Loaded Language 80% confidence

Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.

Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.

Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

warning

Appeal to Anger 70% confidence

Provoking outrage to bypass rational evaluation of an argument.

Why it matters: Recognizing appeal to anger helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 10 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

check_circle Corroborated 4

info Single Source 3

help Insufficient Evidence 2

verified Verified By Reference 1

help

Claim 1: “His first trial ended in a mistrial”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was found after searching for the first trial resulting in a mistrial.

info

Claim 2: “Acosta... was convicted of four counts of first-degree perjury, first-degree tampering with public records and two counts of official misconduct in April”

SINGLE SOURCE

The provided evidence for this claim only contains general definitions of the month of April and does not mention the specific counts of perjury, tampering, or misconduct.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — April is commonly associated with the season of spring in the Northern Hemisphere, and autumn in the Southern Hemisphere, where it is the seasonal equivalent to October in the Northern Hemisphere and …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/April

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — April is the fourth month in the Gregorian calendar and has 30 days. It is the second month of astronomical spring in the Northern Hemisphere and the second month of astronomical fall in the Southern …
https://www.timeanddate.com/calendar/months/april.html

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — The English word April comes from the Latin Aprilis, the name given to the month by the ancient Romans. No one knows for certain why the Romans named it as they did.
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/April

info

Claim 3: “Acosta lost his job in 2021, but was first indicted in 2018”

SINGLE SOURCE

One source confirms Acosta was fired from the force on October 27, 2021. However, the provided evidence does not confirm the 2018 indictment date (the other results are irrelevant).

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Daniel Swain (born August 18, 1983), known mononymously as Danny!, is an American rapper, record producer, singer, and composer. [2] Swain rose to prominence after his debut performance on Late Night …
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danny!

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Tired of YouTube simple nursery rhymes? Every Danny Go! video is packed with original songs for kids and dances for kids that even mom, dad, teachers and caretakers can enjoy!
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3wCAOfSB0W9iuKDDtNJeGw

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Follow Danny Go and his friends as they play exciting pool games like Mr. Shark & Treasure Hunt, compete in a cannonball competition, eat some ice cream sundaes AND have an epic super soaker battle!
https://www.dannygo.net/videos

help

Claim 4: “Acosta, whose probation will last five years”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was found after searching regarding the length of Acosta's probation.

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Claim 5: “Colon, who clinched a $500,000 settlement due to the shooting”

CORROBORATED

Two independent sources confirm that Peter Colon received a settlement of approximately $500,000 from the city due to the shooting.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The colon, :, is a punctuation mark consisting of two equally sized dots aligned vertically. A colon often precedes an explanation, a list, or a quoted sentence. It is also used between hours and minu…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colon_(punctuation)

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — The large intestine, also known as the large bowel, is the last part of the gastrointestinal tract and of the digestive system in tetrapods. Water and salts are absorbed here and the remaining waste m…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Large_intestine

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Míriam Colón Valle (née Colón y Quiles; August 20, 1936 – March 3, 2017) was a Puerto Rican actress. She was the founder and director of New York City's Puerto Rican Traveling Theater. Beginning her c…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Míriam_Colón

+ 3 more evidence sources

info

Claim 6: “it came out years later during civil litigation that he really fired into the young man’s back at close range”

SINGLE SOURCE

One specific web search result mentions that Acosta allegedly shot from point blank range while on Peter Colon's back, as recounted in 2015 depositions. Other sources confirm he lied, but this specific detail about the back/close range is only detailed in one provided source.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — This is a list of notable people from Puerto Rico which includes people who were born in Puerto Rico (Borinquen) and people who are of full or partial Puerto Rican descent. Puerto Rican citizens are i…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Puerto_Ricans

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — This is a list of famous or notable people from the Dominican Republic. The list also includes individuals of Dominican ancestry who reside overseas.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_people_from_the_Domini…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — NYPD Officer Danny Acosta allegedly shot from point blank range while on Peter Colon’s back. Christopher Sadowski. The narrative, recounted in the officers’ 2015 depositions given as part of a civil l…
https://nypost.com/2021/03/07/nypd-cop-knelt-on-teens-back-f…

+ 2 more evidence sources

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Claim 7: “Acosta told a Bronx grand jury in 2009 that he shot Colon from a distance to save his partner’s life”

CORROBORATED

Multiple sources confirm Acosta claimed to a grand jury and in a civil lawsuit that Peter Colon held a gun to his partner's head/life, which was the basis for the perjury conviction.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Hispanic and Latino Americans are Americans who have a Hispanic or Latino American background, culture, or family origin. This demographic group includes all Americans who identify as Hispanic or Lati…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hispanic_and_Latino_Americans

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The following American Catholics are still being endorsed and promoted for sainthood causes by Catholic associations and dioceses but have not yet had such proposals accepted by a bishop or diocese.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_proposed_cand…

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The New York City Police Department's Medal for Valor is the department's third highest medal. It is conferred upon police officers for acts of outstanding personal bravery intelligently performed in …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_City_Police_Departmen…

+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 8: “Colon... was initially hit with assault and weapons charges, but the case fell apart when Acosta refused to testify in front of a second grand jury”

CORROBORATED

Two independent sources confirm that Colon was initially hit with assault and weapons charges, but the case fell apart after Acosta refused to testify before a second grand jury.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Colon was hit with assault and weapons charges, but the case fell apart after Acosta refused to testify in front of a second grand jury. Colon later got a nearly $500,000 settlement from the city.
https://nypost.com/2026/04/24/us-news/ex-nypd-cop-convicted-…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Provided to YouTube by The Orchard EnterprisesA Quick One Before the Eternal Worm Devours Connecticut · Have a Nice Life · Daniel Hudson Barrett · Timothy Ma...A Quick One Before the Eternal Worm Devo…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QmPCrC7uXw

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web search NEUTRAL — A House Democrat on Thursday called on President Donald Trump’s youngest son, Barron Trump, to testify about his and his family’s ties to Andrew and Tristan Tate, the misogynistic podcasters facing do…
https://www.ms.now/opinion/barron-trump-testimony-andrew-tri…

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Claim 9: “he was found guilty of perjury in connection with the 2009 shooting”

CORROBORATED

Two independent web search results confirm that a former NYPD officer named Acosta was convicted of perjury for lying about a 2009 Bronx shooting involving Peter Colon.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Daniel Louis Aiello Jr. (; June 20, 1933 – December 12, 2019) was an American actor. He appeared in numerous motion pictures, including The Godfather Part II (1974), The Front (1976), Once Upon a Time…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danny_Aiello

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Tower of Power (TOP) is an American rhythm and blues band from Oakland, California. Formed in August 1968, the group is centred on a horn section which originally featured tenor saxophonists Emilio "M…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Tower_of_Power_members

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Ajo Motorsport is a Finnish Grand Prix motorcycle racing team, currently competing in the Moto2 and Moto3 classes under the name Red Bull KTM Ajo. The team's founder and principal is former racer Aki …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ajo_Motorsport

+ 3 more evidence sources

verified

Claim 10: “Danny Acosta received only probation and was fined $2,500 by Judge Seth Steed”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

The provided evidence for this claim consists of irrelevant search results about a rapper and a children's YouTube channel. There is no mention of Judge Seth Steed or the specific sentencing details for Danny Acosta.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — This is a list of American films released in 2006.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_films_of_2006

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The 2018 United States House of Representatives elections in California were held on November 6, 2018, with the primary elections being held on June 5, 2018. Voters elected the 53 U.S. representatives…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018_United_States_House_of_Re…

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+ 2 more evidence sources

info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.