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Jury selection begins in Buffalo cops' trial

Raymond Krug and Joseph Wendel are accused of using a BB gun to shoot a handcuffed teenager while he was being held after a traffic stop back in 2009.

BUFFALO, NY-- Jury selection began Tuesday in the federal case against two suspended Buffalo Police officers.

Raymond Krug and Joseph Wendel are accused of using a BB gun to shoot a handcuffed teenager while he was being held after a traffic stop back in 2009. The officers face civil rights violations.

Last week, the first officer at the scene, Gregory Kwiatkowski pleaded guilty to a civil rights violation charge. Kwiatkowski pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor and could get up to a year behind bars.

In federal court in downtown Buffalo Tuesday, potential jurors were questioned about whether they can be fair. Potential jurors were prepped that trial could last two weeks and get a lot of media attention.

Back in 2009, Buffalo Police were in search of a vehicle with four teenaged males inside who were allegedly shooting a BB gun at college students. The defense says the teens were in the area of Main Street and Custer in Buffalo.

Prosecutors say Cheektowaga Police stopped the vehicle on Treehaven Road, notified BPD and Kwiatkowski, Wendel and Krug responded.

Kwiatkowski admitted to pushing each of the suspects heads into the vehicle, recovering the BB gun and giving it to the other officers. Krug and Wendel are accused of shooting one of the teens while he was in a police car and handcuffed.

In new documents obtained by 2 On Your Side, prosecutors say a Buffalo Fire captain will testify that officer Wendel admitted to him that they shot the suspect and laughed at him. And that Kwiatkoski, will testify against the two officers.

Local defense attorney and legal analyst Mike Taheri is not connected to this case.

REPORTER: Do the other two defendants should they have any concerns as a result of that guilty plea?

"I think this other police officer is going to testify against them his testimony will certainly be harmful to the defense but the defense will have an opportunity to cross examine about the deal that he's made with the government," Taheri said.

Jury selection will continues on Wednesday.

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