Eurie Stamps Family Preps For 10th Anniversary Of Killing

FRAMINGHAM, MA — After renewed interest in the 2011 police killing of Eurie Stamps in Framingham, his family and supporters are highlighting his death as the 10th anniversary approaches.

Stamps was shot and killed on Jan. 5, 2011, inside his Fountain Street home. Police had raided the home during a drug investigation unrelated to Stamps, and the 68-year-old was shot in the head by Framingham officer Paul Duncan while lying on the floor, according to police records.

Stamps' killing — ruled an accident by former Middlesex DA Gerard Leone — outraged local residents, and led to the disbandment of Framingham's SWAT team and a $3.75 million civil settlement.

But Stamps' family sought to renew interest in the case this summer following other high-profile police killings. Under the banner #JusticeForEurie, family and supporters asked for Stamps' death to be re-investigated, and they want Framingham officials to fire Duncan — although both Mayor Yvonne Spicer and new police Chief Lester Baker have said they will not do that.

In response to #JusticeForEurie, Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan has begun reviewing the case, and has released a trove of public documents related to the killing. But Stamps' family is still seeking more movement.

"[#JusticeForEurie is] pleased Stamps is finally getting the recognition he deserves, but are not satisfied with the response so far from the Middlesex DA’s office and Framingham city government," supports said in a recent statement. "On the 10th anniversary of the brutal and unnecessary killing of Eurie Stamps Sr., we are still waiting for justice."

The Framingham City Council did issue a formal apology to the Stamps family in September, and may look at creating a commission to examine the 2011 incident. Spicer has also pledged to support a scholarship named for Stamps at Framingham High School. In Cambridge, where Stamps lived for most of his life, a basketball court and basketball league will be named for him.