A dismissed Connecticut law enforcement officer is now facing manslaughter charges after state investigators determined he improperly handled a deadly encounter with a Black man experiencing a mental health emergency.
Joseph Magnano, who was terminated from the Hartford Police Department, shot and killed Steven Jones on Feb. 27. Jones, age 55, had a documented history of mental health issues and was seen walking down a street carrying a large blade.
The Connecticut Inspector General filed charges against Magnano on Monday after he surrendered to authorities, Hartford Police Union President James Rutkauski confirmed.
Details regarding Magnano’s legal representation were not readily accessible.
The fatal incident sparked significant community backlash and raised concerns about Hartford’s procedures for handling individuals experiencing mental health emergencies.
Video from body-worn cameras revealed that when Magnano reached the location, three fellow officers were already attempting to peacefully communicate with Jones, who had inflicted cuts on himself and was experiencing suicidal thoughts, based on a 911 call placed by his sister.
The other officers maintained distance from Jones and used calm voices, but Magnano immediately started yelling commands for him to drop the weapon. Within less than 60 seconds of exiting his patrol car, he discharged nine rounds at Jones.
Monday’s arrest warrant from the Connecticut Inspector General stated that their probe determined Magnano “did not engage in de-escalation measures (and) he failed to make reasonable attempts to use non-lethal force.”
The investigation also determined that Jones “did not pose an imminent threat to bystanders,” and that Magnano had “ample space” to retreat from the situation.
“To the extent Magnano subjectively believed that Jones posed a risk of serious physical injuries to bystanders in the area, Magnano made no effort to move bystanders out of any perceived harm’s way,” the warrant noted.
In his official incident documentation, Magnano stated he was “fearful of Jones making a sudden lunge towards either an officer or citizen.”
During Monday’s press briefing, Rutkauski, the police union head, accused the inspector general’s office of rushing its findings, adding that Magnano was “defending his fellow officers, the community, himself.”
Civil rights lawyer Ben Crump, who represents Jones’ relatives, described the charges as a “necessary and meaningful step toward accountability.”
“Stevie was in the middle of a mental health crisis, and instead of receiving the care he needed, he was shot nine times,” Crump said in a statement. “This charge reflects what the family has known all along, that what happened to Stevie was not justified.”
