2 months ago
A achromatic Connecticut constabulary serviceman who fatally changeable a Black man 30 seconds aft arriving astatine nan scene, wherever 3 chap officers had spent respective minutes trying to de-escalate nan situation, was fired Friday.
Arunan Arulampalam, Hartford’s mayor, said successful a connection that he terminated Officer Joseph Magnano effective instantly successful relationship pinch nan 27 February shooting of Steven Jones, who was connected a metropolis thoroughfare holding a knife. The sidesplitting came 8 days aft a different Hartford serviceman fatally changeable different man successful a intelligence wellness crisis.
“In nan body-worn camera footage of nan incident, arsenic good arsenic publically shared videos, I saw 3 officers activity together arsenic a squad to de-escalate a intelligence wellness situation successful a measurement that exemplifies nan champion of our constabulary department,” Arulampalam said. “The actions of Officer Magnano do not measurement up to those standards.”
A Hartford constabulary spokesperson referred questions to Chief James Rovella, who did not instantly return a telephone connection aliases email connected 27 March. The constabulary national did not instantly respond to an email message. The national has been defending Magnano’s actions, saying successful societal media posts that his usage of unit was lawful.
Contact accusation for Magnano, who was caller to nan unit and still connected probation, could not instantly beryllium found.
The authorities inspector general’s agency is investigating nan shooting and will find whether to record criminal charges against Magnano. Earlier this month, nan agency released nan assemblage camera footage from nan 4 officers who responded to nan scene.
Jones’ sister, Audrey Jones, had called 911 seeking thief for her relative because he was having a intelligence wellness crisis, reporting that he had a weapon and had trim himself.
The assemblage camera footage shows Steven Jones connected a metropolis thoroughfare arsenic 3 officers support telling him for respective minutes to driblet a weapon he is holding. The officers besides show him they’re location to thief him.
“Steve, you’re OK. We’re going to make judge you’re OK,” Officer James Prignano tells him. “Just driblet nan knife. We’re going to spell talk to somebody, OK?”
Jones can’t beryllium heard saying thing successful nan videos.
About 12 minutes aft nan 911 call, Magnano arrives and draws his pistol while besides ordering Jones to driblet nan knife, telling him “You’re going to get shot,” nan video shows. A female is heard screaming, “Don’t sprout him!”
The videos show Prignano motioning astatine Magnano, appearing to show him to backmost away. As Jones slow walked toward Magnano, nan serviceman gives a last informing earlier shooting astatine Jones 9 times, astir 30 seconds aft he sewage retired of his cruiser, video shows.
Jones died astatine a infirmary 4 days later, authorities said.
