Family Of Hartford Man Shot, Killed By Police Retains Renowned Legal Figure

HARTFORD, CT — The family of a knife-wielding Hartford man shot and killed by police last month has hired a prominent national legal figure to handle their case.

The family of 55-year-old Steven Jones has retained nationally known civil rights attorney Ben Crump after a preliminary state report classified Jones’ fatal shooting by a Hartford police officer as a homicide.

Crump was expected to join Jones’ relatives and local civil rights leaders at a news conference Monday at Phillips Metropolitan CME Church in Hartford to address the shooting and call for accountability and changes to how police respond to mental health crises.

Also scheduled to speak was Scot X. Esdaile, president of the Connecticut State Conference of NAACP Branches.

Crump is best known for representing the family of George Floyd following his murder by Minneapolis, Minn., police in May 2020, which set off a firestorm of national protests back then.

Crump secured a historic $27 million pre-trial settlement with the City of Minneapolis in 2021 and heavily advocated for the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act.

The Jones family and their legal team said Monday’s news conference will focus on seeking answers and pushing for reforms in how law enforcement responds to people experiencing mental health crises.

Jones died March 3, several days after he was shot during a Feb. 27 encounter with officers on Blue Hills Avenue.

According to a preliminary report released March 6 by the Connecticut Office of Inspector General, the shooting occurred while Jones was experiencing an acute mental health crisis.

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (Connecticut) determined that Jones died from “complications of gunshot wounds involving the torso.” The report lists the manner of death as homicide. Toxicology results are still pending.

State investigators said the encounter began around 11 a.m. when a family member called 911 requesting help, reporting that Jones had cut himself and was holding a knife.

With colleagues forming a perimeter around Jones in the middle of the street, HPD Officer Joseph Magnano arrived around 11:12 a.m. near the intersection of Blue Hills Avenue and Euclid Street.

With his firearm drawn, Magnano repeatedly ordered Jones to drop the knife and warned him, “You’re going to get shot,” according to the report.

As Jones continued to walk toward him, Magnano backed away. When they reached the middle of the intersection, Magnano shouted, “Last time, drop the knife, drop it,” and fired nine shots, according to the report.

Jones fell with multiple gunshot wounds. Emergency medical personnel arrived within two minutes and transported Jones to a hospital, where he died a few days later.

The shooting remains under investigation by the Connecticut Office of Inspector General and the Connecticut State Police Central District Major Crime Squad.

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'