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Updated 10/07/2012 06:27 PM

Lawyer For Detective Accused Of Shooting National Guardsman Speaks

By: NY1 News

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The lawyer for the NYPD detective accused of shooting an unarmed National Guardsman to death is speaking publicly about the incident for the first time.

In an interview with the New York Times, Detective Hassan Hamdy's attorney said that Noel Polanco did not comply with orders to put up his hands after he was pulled over on the Grand Central Parkway.

He says Polanco reached down in a "quick motion," leading Hamdy to fear he may be reaching for a gun.

But a passenger in the car said Hamdy opened fire before anyone had a chance to show their hands.

Polanco was pulled over Thursday morning by Emergency Service Unit officers who said he was driving erratically and cut off one of their unmarked vehicles.

His mother, Cecilia Reyes, met with Rev. Al Sharpton Saturday to call for a full investigation into her son's death.

"Now they want to just discredit my son and make him look like he's a bad person," she said. "I'm going to go for justice. This is not going to stay like this. He was not the kid that they're trying to make him be and I ain't going to give up until I get the justice."

"This case is a clear outrage that brings the level of police accountability to another level in this city," Rev. Sharpton said.

The NYPD and the Queens District Attorney's office are both investigating.

Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said the Polanco case is under "very aggressive investigation."

"We're working closely with the Queens District Attorney on this matter and Mrs. Reyes very much wants answers to her questions," Kelly said. "We're going to do everything we can to see to it that we get answers to those questions."

Kelly met with Reyes at her home on Friday to express his condolences.

He wouldn't give any details of their conversation but described her as heartbroken.

A fundraiser is being held Sunday for the Polanco family at the ICE lounge, where Polanco worked.