HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) 鈥� A white police officer in Connecticut who repeatedly suffering a mental health crisis while his colleagues tried to defuse the situation made his first court appearance Friday on a , a brief hearing that attracted dozens of fellow officers who support him.
Joseph Magnano, 23, did not speak at Superior Court in Hartford but later hugged officers outside the courtroom. Many displayed badges over their street clothes.
Magnano by the Hartford mayor after the fatal shooting of Steven Jones on Feb. 27. The shooting drew wide public outcry and questions about the police department鈥檚 policies when responding to people in mental distress.
The president of the local police union continued to defend Magnano while speaking to reporters Friday.
鈥淭hey told him he was a criminal for doing what he was trained to do,鈥� James Rutkauski said.
Jones, 55, who had a history of mental illness, was holding a large knife on a city street when officers arrived on that winter day.
Police body camera video shows three officers, over several minutes, repeatedly telling Jones to drop a knife. The officers also tell him they鈥檙e there to help.
鈥淪teve, you鈥檙e OK. We鈥檙e going to make sure you鈥檙e OK,鈥� Officer James Prignano says. 鈥淛ust drop the knife. We鈥檙e going to go talk to somebody, OK?鈥�
Jones can鈥檛 be heard saying anything in the videos.
About 12 minutes after the 911 call, Magnano arrives, draws his pistol and shouts at Jones to drop the knife, telling him, 鈥淵ou鈥檙e going to get shot.鈥� A woman is heard screaming, 鈥淒on鈥檛 shoot him!鈥�
The videos show Prignano motioning at Magnano, appearing to tell him to back away. As Jones slowly walks toward Magnano, the officer gives a final warning before shooting at him nine times. Jones died four days later.
Connecticut Inspector General Eliot Prescott said an investigation found Jones was not an imminent threat.
In his own incident report, Magnano said he was 鈥渇earful of Jones making a sudden lunge towards either an officer or citizen.鈥�
Jones鈥� relatives did not attend the hearing but local NAACP officials were present Friday.
鈥淭hey take an oath to protect and serve,鈥� Corrie Betts, president of the Greater Hartford NAACP branch, said of police. 鈥淪o when they鈥檙e called to a mental health call and an individual ends up dead, is that protecting and serving?鈥�
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