An off-duty South Carolina police officer, Anthony DeLustro, was charged with murder after shooting and killing an unarmed man, Michael O’Neal, outside a Chick-fil-A following a dispute on March 20. DeLustro initially claimed self-defense, stating he feared for the safety of the community and his wife. However, eyewitness interviews and video evidence collected by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) indicate that DeLustro intentionally killed O’Neal with malice aforethought.
Witnesses reported that DeLustro was the primary aggressor in the altercation and fatally shot O’Neal as he tried to leave after a physical fight. The incident started with a verbal exchange, escalated to a fistfight, during which DeLustro attempted to arrest O’Neal. O’Neal expressed his desire to leave, but DeLustro threatened to shoot him if he did so. Subsequently, DeLustro retrieved his handgun after it fell during the fight, entered O’Neal’s car, and fatally shot him, despite O’Neal’s attempts to drive away.
Following the shooting, DeLustro was placed on administrative leave by the Summerville Police Department, who then handed over the investigation to SLED. DeLustro confessed to investigators that he did not see O’Neal with a weapon and never threatened to use one, but was trying to stop O’Neal from leaving. SLED determined that DeLustro’s actions were reckless and that O’Neal had the right to act in self-defense against the armed officer. Subsequently, DeLustro was terminated from his position after being charged with murder.
DeLustro began his law enforcement career with the NYPD in 1980 and worked for various police, sheriff, and campus security departments in South Carolina. During his time at the NYPD, he faced three misconduct complaints, two for the use of force and one for abuse of authority. These complaints were dismissed or unresolved as DeLustro left the NYPD in 2003 to move to South Carolina. References from his initial security job in South Carolina mentioned that although his temper was noticeable, he rarely received complaints from the public.
In response to the tragic incident, the Summerville Police Department expressed sympathies to both O’Neal’s family and DeLustro’s family. Loved ones of O’Neal set up a GoFundMe page to raise funds for funeral expenses and are awaiting the results of the thorough investigation by SLED. The investigation into the shooting remains ongoing, as authorities work to gather more evidence and information related to the case.
The case involving DeLustro and O’Neal highlights the complexities and dangers associated with law enforcement and the potential consequences of misuse of authority. As the investigation continues, the community and law enforcement agencies must work together to ensure accountability, justice, and transparency in cases of alleged police misconduct and abuse of power. Both families involved in the tragic incident are grappling with the aftermath, seeking answers, closure, and support as they navigate the legal process and cope with the loss of their loved ones.
