Connecticut officer fired after shooting man in mental health crisis as others tried to de-escalate
The Guardian • • nation
Key Points:
- Officer Joseph Magnano, a white Hartford police officer, was fired after fatally shooting Steven Jones, a Black man, within 30 seconds of arriving at the scene during a mental health crisis intervention.
- Prior to Magnano's arrival, three officers had spent several minutes attempting to de-escalate the situation without using force, as captured in body camera footage.
- The shooting occurred on 27 February, with Jones holding a knife and his sister having called 911 seeking help for his mental health crisis.
- The state inspector general’s office is investigating the incident to determine if criminal charges against Magnano are warranted, while the police union has defended Magnano’s use of force as lawful.
- Jones died four days after the shooting, and Hartford’s mayor condemned Magnano’s actions as not meeting the department’s standards for handling mental health crises.
