Officer Joseph Magnano was terminated effective immediately, Hartford Mayor Arunan Arulampalam announced. Magnano fatally shot Steven Jones on February 27 after Jones' sister, Audrey Jones, called 911 seeking help for her brother because he was having a mental health crisis, reporting that he had a knife and had cut himself. Jones was on a city street holding a knife.
Three officers spent several minutes trying to de-escalate the situation before Magnano arrived, but Magnano shot Jones about 30 seconds after arriving at the scene, firing nine times. Jones died at a hospital four days later. The state inspector general's office is investigating the shooting and will determine whether to file criminal charges against Magnano.
This shooting occurred eight days after a different Hartford officer fatally shot another man in a mental health crisis. Magnano was new to the force and still on probation. The police union has been defending Magnano's actions, saying his use of force was lawful.