Former New Orleans Cop Sentenced To Prison For Hurricane Katrina Murders

A Federal Judge Thursday sentenced a former New Orleans police officer to eight years in prison for participating in a cover-up of the murders of two unarmed black men following Hurricane Katrina.

Michael Hunter Jr., 34, admitted firing several shots at 40-year-old Ronald Madison, who was mentally disabled, and James Brisette, 19, on New Orleans’ Danziger Bridge.

 Hunter’s shots missed both men, but he did nothing to stop other New Orleans police officers from killing Brissette and Madison. Both men were searching for food Sept. 4, 2005, five days after Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans.

Police shot and killed Brissette on the eastern end of the Danziger Bridge, and Madison was shot in the back and killed on the western end of the bridge.

Initially, police claimed they shot and killed the two because they were engaged in a gun fight. Once federal prosecutors discovered the Brisette and Madison were unarmed, New Orleans police engaged in an elaborate cover-up. They planted evidence, fabricated witnesses and made false statements. Prosecutors charged Hunter with obstruction of justice.

U.S. District Court Judge Sarah Vance called the actions by the police “savage” and a “shocking breach of the public trust."

Hunter is scheduled to begin his prison sentence March 14, 2011. Hunter is one of five police officers who have pled guilty to the shootings. He is expected to testify against six other former New Orleans police officers who are scheduled to go on trial in June 2011.