A South Carolina police officer, Anthony DeLustro, was charged with murder in the fatal shooting of Michael O’Neal outside a Chick-fil-A restaurant in Summerville. DeLustro, who was off-duty at the time, allegedly started a fight with O’Neal, leading to a physical confrontation between the two men. Witnesses reported that DeLustro initiated the fight and used a homophobic slur towards O’Neal during the altercation.
After exchanging kicks and punches in the parking lot, DeLustro showed O’Neal his police credentials and told him he was under arrest. When O’Neal attempted to leave in his car, DeLustro allegedly threatened to shoot him. DeLustro’s handgun fell to the ground during the scuffle, and he later picked it up and shot O’Neal as he tried to drive away. The bullet entered O’Neal’s right arm and traveled to his chest, resulting in his death.
DeLustro claimed he acted in self-defense, believing his legs were trapped under the moving car, but witness accounts and bystander videos did not support his claim. DeLustro had been a former officer with the New York Police Department and had been cleared of two previous misconduct accusations. In a video call from jail, DeLustro asked for mercy so he could assist his wife in raising their two granddaughters, following the death of their mother in 2021.
Michael O’Neal’s family has expressed deep respect for law enforcement, with O’Neal’s father being a police officer in Winston-Salem, North Carolina for over 30 years. Despite the tragedy, they acknowledge that no profession is free of bad actors. Solicitor Scarlett Wilson, who will be prosecuting the case, expressed condolences to O’Neal’s family and praised witnesses for their cooperation in the investigation. The community’s involvement and eyewitness cooperation have been crucial in the thorough and productive investigation by SLED.
DeLustro is currently being held without bond in the Berkeley County Detention Center, with no date set for his next court hearing. The case has sparked discussions about police accountability and the use of excessive force in law enforcement. Both the O’Neal family and the DeLustro family are grappling with the aftermath of the tragic events that unfolded in the Chick-fil-A parking lot, highlighting the profound impact that such incidents have on the families and communities involved. The legal proceedings will be closely watched as the case moves through the judicial system.
