The family of a New York City police officer who was murdered by a car salesman may proceed with a lawsuit alleging that the employer of the killer, a convicted felon, negligently hired him and negligently allowed him access to dealer’s vehicles off hours, a Staten Island judge has ruled.

Timoshenko v. Airport Auto Group, 2011 NY Slip OP 51492, centers on the 2007 shooting of Russel Timoshenko, a 23-year-old police officer on routine patrol in Crown Heights, Brooklyn.