Two men accused of shooting a New York City police officer to death in a botched Brooklyn robbery are on trial for murder.

Lamont Pride and Michael Velez have pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder in the death of longtime NYPD officer Peter Figoski. Their trial began Thursday.

Two others will be tried later. A fifth has pleaded guilty in a deal to testify in exchange for a reduced sentence.

The 47-year old Figoski was among officers responding to a December 2011 home invasion. Prosecutors say he was ambushed by Pride and others who were hiding in an unfinished part of the basement apartment.

Figoski was an officer for 22 years. He was posthumously promoted to detective.

(AP)