Former Hartford police officer charged in deadly shooting of Steven Jones
A report released by the Office of the Inspector General concluded that Joseph Magnano's use of deadly force was not legally justified. It's the second time a police officer has been charged with manslaughter following a deadly use of force investigation.
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A former Hartford police officer accused of shooting and killing a man who authorities say was having a mental health crisis has been charged with first-degree manslaughter.
A report released by the Office of the Inspector General concluded that Joseph Magnano's use of deadly force was not legally justified.
It's the second time a police officer has been charged with manslaughter following a deadly use of force investigation.
The first time involved State Trooper Brian North.
"I think what we saw today was an affirmation of the process of justice that we have," Hartford Mayor Arunan Arulampalam says. "I think many of our residents recognize that there are many members of this police department who would not have come into a situation and reacted the way Officer Magnano did."
The February incident was caught on police body camera.
Hartford police responded to Blue Hills Avenue where 55-year-old Steven Jones was outside his apartment holding a large knife.
His family said he was suffering from a mental health crisis.
Officers repeatedly instructed Jones to drop the knife. When that didn't work, they deployed tasers. Officers did hit him multiple times with tasers, but Jones continued holding the knife.
It was at that time when Joseph Magnano arrived on the scene.
The report states he responded to the scene on his own after hearing chatter over police radio. Upon arrival, he instructed Jones to drop the knife.
That's when Jones started walking toward him.
"Drop the knife!" Magnano says on video. "You're going to get shot! Drop the knife!"
That's when authorities say Magnano, who had only been on the scene for about thirty seconds, fired nine shots at Jones.
Arulampalam fired Magnano back in April, saying he re-escalated the situation.
Mayor Arulampalam stood firm on that decision following the release of the inspector general's report.
The Office of the Inspector General usually takes about a year to complete its investigations. This one took just a few months.
Hartford's police union says it stands behind its former officer.
The NAACP will hold a press conference at 11:30 a.m. in Hartford Tuesday.
Magnano faces one to twenty years behind bars if convicted.
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