A handful of Boston elected officials have weighed in so far on the arrest and manslaughter charge against Boston Police Officer Nicholas O’Malley in the shooting death of Stephenson King on March 11.
O’Malley, 33, shot King, 39, during an encounter in which King allegedly tried to escape from Boston Police who were seeking to arrest him for a carjacking that took place earlier that night in Roxbury.
Three city councillors who’ve spoken out on the issue called for body camera footage of the encounter that led to the shooting to be made public. District Attorney Kevin Hayden has said that the footage will not be released before a Grand Jury convenes in the matter.
Councillor John FitzGerald, posting on Facebook, voiced support for the Boston Police Department while acknowledging the importance of accountability in the investigation.
“For someone to lose their life is always the last possible outcome,” FitzGerald wrote, adding that “we must ensure fairness and due process.”
At-large Councillor Erin Murphy, also took to Facebook to post a letter that called it “a tragic situation for all involved.”
She added: “We must allow the legal process to play out without rushing to judgment.”
Murphy also noted that “there are families on both sides who are now facing unimaginable hardship.”
“It is critical that we support a process that is thorough, transparent, and just,” Murphy wrote, emphasizing that another person was victimized on March 11: a woman who was allegedly carjacked and assaulted by King outside of a Tremont Street restaurant.
Councillor Ed Flynn cautioned against a “rush to judgment,” adding: “Officer O’Malley deserves the same due process as any other citizen.”
“The city should not penalize Officer O’Malley or his family financially before this case is adjudicated,” Flynn said in a social media post.
City Councillors Brian Worrell and Miniard Culpepper issued a joint statement that included a call for body camera footage to be released, calling it “critical for transparency and accountability.”
According to Fox25, Mayor Wu said: “I am grateful to District Attorney Hayden and Commissioner Cox for the urgency they have brought to this investigation and for their commitment to transparency in the pursuit of justice.”
City Councillor Rutzhee Louijeune posted a message on Facebook on March 19 that included a call for police footage of the encounter to be made public.
Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden, who spoke about the decision to arrest and charge O’Malley after his arraignment on Thursday, defended his office against charges from O’Malley’s attorney that the arrest in particular was politically motivated.
Above: Councillor Minard Culpepper has called for the release of body-worn camera footage from the encounter that led to the death of Stephenson King. Chris Lovett photo
“This remains an active case, and the defendant is presumed innocent. The facts will ultimately be determined in court,” Hayden said.
Larry Calderone, the president of the Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association, which represents most uniformed BPD officers, called it “overreach by the district attorney’s office.”
“We stand firmly behind Officer O’Malley and will support him through this process,” Calderone. “This decision will have a chilling effect on police officers who are out there every day trying to keep our communities safe.”
A GoFund me account set up to support O’Malley and his family has raised more than $369,000 as of Sunday afternoon.
This is a developing story.
