DC officer who fatally shot Terrence Sterling loses appeal, will be fired

WASHINGTON - A D.C. police officer who fatally shot unarmed motorcyclist Terrence Sterling will be terminated from his position next Friday, police said.

The police trial board recommended for Trainer's firing after the officer petitioned for his job in April. Trainer appealed the decision to Police Chief Peter Newsham, which was denied.

"Following an appeal of his recommended termination by an MPD trial board panel, the Chief of Police issued Officer Brain Trainer with a final agency decision. Officer Trainer's termination is effective June 22, 2018," D.C. police announced in a statement on Friday.

On Sept. 11, 2016, Trainer and another officer pursued Sterling while he was riding his motorcycle in Northwest D.C. According to the officers, Sterling was speeding and ran a light. However, the pursuit of Sterling for a traffic infraction was a violation of police policy.

According to police, Trainer fired his weapon at the 31-year-old man after his motorcycle struck their police cruiser. Trainer did not turn on his body-worn camera until after the shooting.

Following the shooting, Trainer told investigators that he feared for his life and fired as Sterling's motorcycle struck the door of his police cruiser.

Last December, D.C. police determined the shooting of Sterling was unjustified and recommended Trainer to be fired.

In February, Sterling's family reached a settlement agreement in the civil suit filed against the D.C. government for $3.5 million.