HARTFORD, CT — The union representing Hartford police officers publicly backed former police officer Joseph Magnano on Wednesday following his Monday arrest in connection with the fatal shooting of a knife-wielding man experiencing a mental health crisis on Feb. 27.
Magnano was charged with first-degree manslaughter and will next appear in court on June 5 after being released on $50,000 bond.
In a social media statement, the Hartford Police Union said it “stands with Officer Joseph Magnano,” describing the Feb. 27 shooting as a “justified use of force after multiple de-escalation attempts on a knife-wielding suspect.”
The union also shared a link to a WFSB Channel 3 interview with Magnano’s attorney, Patrick Tomasiewicz, a criminal defense attorney out of Hartford.
In the interview, Tomasiewicz said Magnano “courageously served the city of Hartford and acted consistently and in conformity with training on the use of force.” He also said Magnano intends to plead not guilty.
The comments came days after Connecticut Inspector General Eliot D. Prescott announced that Magnano, 23, had been charged in connection with the shooting death of Steven Jones, 55, on Blue Hills Avenue.
The Office of Inspector General also released a 53-page report concluding Magnano’s use of deadly force “was not objectively reasonable” and “was not legally justified.”
The case has generated significant public debate in Hartford.
Supporters of Magnano have created a Facebook page titled “Stand with Officer Joseph Magnano,” where posts argue the former officer acted according to police training after a Taser deployment failed.
Jones allegedly refused commands while armed with a knife, according to the new Facebook page as well as the state report.
Hartford Mayor Arunan Arulampalam fired Magnano about a month after the shooting, citing poor job performance while the state investigation remained ongoing.
Meanwhile, Jones’ family has retained civil rights attorney Ben Crump and filed legal action against the Hartford Police Department and the City of Hartford related to the shooting.
Jones was memorialized at a March funeral in Bloomfield, where civil rights activist Al Sharpton delivered a eulogy.
To watch the full WFSB Channel 3 interview with Magnano's attorney, click on this link.
From May 18: 'Former Hartford Cop Charged In Feb. 27 Fatal Shooting: State'
From March 27: 'Hartford Mayor Fires HPD Cop Who Shot, Killed Man; Police Union Rips City: UPDATE'
From March 24: 'Civil Rights Icon To Eulogize Hartford Man Killed By Police'
From March 9: 'Family Of Hartford Man Shot, Killed By Police Retains Renowned Legal Figure'
From March 6: 'New Report Outlines New Details In Fatal Hartford Police Shooting Feb. 27: State'
From March 3: 'Man Shot By Hartford Cop Last Week Dies From Injuries: State'
From March 2: 'VIDEO: Footage Released Of Officer-Involved Shooting Last Friday In Hartford'
From March 2: 'Leaders Seek Answers Following Officer-Involved Shooting In Hartford'
From Feb. 27: 'Hartford Police Shoot Knife-Wielding Man Late Friday Morning: Reports'
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