Mr. Pride chose to shoot, firing a single shot that killed Officer Peter Figoski in the early morning hours of Dec. 12, 2011, prosecutor Kenneth Taub told a jury on the first day of a joint murder trial against Mr. Pride and Michael Valez, the alleged getaway driver that night.

WSJ: Trial Opens in Slaying of Officer

Both Mr. Pride and Mr. Valez have pleaded not guilty.

WSJ: Trial Opens in Slaying of Officer

It will be up to the jury to decide whether Mr. Pride, 28 years old, intentionally shot Mr. Figoski as he made his escape at 2:20 a.m. from the basement apartment of a home in Cypress Hills, Brooklyn.

WSJ: Trial Opens in Slaying of Officer