By MICHAEL KUNZELMAN Associated Press
August 16, 2013 - 3:54 pm EDT
NEW ORLEANS — A New Orleans police officer apologized in court Friday to the family of the unarmed man he shot to death during a 2012 drug raid, then was led off in handcuffs to begin a four-year sentence after pleading guilty to manslaughter.
Joshua Colclough entered the plea before state Judge Keva Landrum-Johnson as family members of 20-year-old Wendell Allen looked on. Colclough apologized to the family for the second time in as many days. Attorneys said he met with Allen's family members at their lawyers' offices on Thursday — the same day he formally resigned from the New Orleans Police Department.Natasha Allen, the victim's mother, said the shooting devastated her family. However, she said she forgave the officer.
"What I'm doing for you Mr. Colclaugh, is what my son would have done for you," she said.
District Attorney Leon Cannizzaro said in court that Allen was shot when police raided a home in New Orleans' Gentilly neighborhood in March 2012. Authorities at the time said the investigation involved marijuana.
Allen was at the top of the stairway when he was shot in the chest.
"Wendell Allen was only wearing a pair of pants when he appeared to the officers," Cannizzaro told the judge.
Defense attorney Claude Kelly said the shooting resulted from a split-second decision by the 29-year-old Colclaugh.
"Josh will live with this as will the Allen family, until the day he dies," Kelly said in court.
Friday's plea hearing came a day after Colclaugh met with Allen family members and tearfully apologized. WVUE-TV was present and recorded it.
"I wanted to tell you for a very long time how sorry I am. I am so very sorry," he said during that meeting.
"I prayed for you. I prayed God have mercy on your soul, but what took you so long?" Natasha Allen said at one point, also crying.
"I am so sorry it took so long. I'm very sorry for what I've put your family through," Colclough said.
In August 2012, an Allen family attorney said Colclough had been expected to sign a plea agreement to negligent homicide but that deal fell apart.
Kelly said Friday that Colclough wasn't psychologically ready to accept a plea deal a year ago but is genuinely remorseful.