Kenneth Chamberlain shooting: Sergeant was prepared to fire gun

WHITE PLAINS - A White Plains police sergeant testified that he was reaching for his own gun during a 2011 confrontation at Kenneth Chamberlain Sr.'s apartment, when he heard a gunshot and saw Chamberlain on the floor.

Officers had engaged in an hour-long standoff with Chamberlain, who began charging at Sgt. Keith Martin with a knife, Sgt. Stephen Fotrell testified.

"I was drawing my gun to shoot," said Fottrell. "I thought Sgt. (Keith) Martin was about to be stabbed or killed."

Chamberlain, Fottrell testified, was less than a foot and a half from Martin, swinging a knife in his right hand.

He said Chamberlain was pumping his arms as he held the knife — but acknowledged he didn't put that in his police report and was giving that detail for the first time Thursday in federal court in White Plains.

Martin was about 15 minutes into his testimony before court was adjourned for the day. With Veterans Day on Friday, court will resume Monday morning.

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The Chamberlain family is seeking $21 million in a wrongful death suit, which was filed after a Westchester grand jury voted not to indict any of the officers involved in the Nov. 19, 2011 incident. The family claims officers used racial slurs and taunted Chamberlain, who was African-American, during the standoff.

U.S. District Judge Cathy Seibel has dismissed many of the lawsuit's claims, including those against all of the officers involved except for Anthony Carelli, who fired the fatal shots, and the city.

Officers had initially responded to a medical call at the South Lexington Avenue apartment.

Fottrell testified that Chamberlain made threats.

"At times, he said the first officer through the door, 'I'm gonna kill,'" Fottrell testified. He also testified that Chamberlain said, "I may die tonight, but I'm taking someone with me."

Officer Marek Markowski, who responded to the scene, also testified Thursday that officers dragged the 68-year-old Chamberlain to the door and out of the apartment. Chamberlain was in the hands of EMTs less than 30 seconds after being shot, he said.

Sgt. Martin had fired four to five bean bag shots during the confrontation, he said. Within a couple seconds after the last bean bag shot, Markowski heard two gunshots, he said. He didn't see the actual shooting.

"I saw Chamberlain lying on his back in the living room," he said.

The trial is expected to wrap up at the end of next week.