Anthony DeLustro: Off-duty cop fatally shoots unarmed man 'with malice aforethought' outside Chick-fil-A
Warning: This article contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers’ discretion advised.
BERKELEY, COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA: An off-duty South Carolina police officer, Anthony DeLustro, found himself facing murder charges after a harrowing altercation outside a Chick-fil-A resulted in the death of an unarmed man, Michael O'Neal.
The incident, which occurred on March 20, has sparked outrage with eyewitness accounts and video evidence collected by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) indicating that DeLustro's actions were premeditated.
Despite DeLustro's claims of self-defense, the evidence suggests otherwise. A senior special agent at SLED noted in an affidavit that the former cop "did kill the victim with malice aforethought," emphasizing that O'Neal posed no imminent threat to justify the use of deadly force.
(Berkeley County Jail)
Ex-NYPD cop Anthony DeLustro charged for shooting unarmed man
The altercation began with a dispute between DeLustro and O'Neal, escalating into a physical confrontation in the Chick-fil-A parking lot. Witnesses described the ex-officer as "the primary aggressor," using derogatory language and attempting to restrain the victim from leaving. Despite O'Neal's attempts to disengage and leave the scene, DeLustro pursued him.
O'Neal repeatedly questioned the off-duty officer, asking, “Do you want to do this?” In response, DeLustro retorted with a homophobic slur, saying, “Come on you f–king f—-t,” and ultimately firing a fatal shot from the passenger seat of the victim's vehicle.
Anthony DeLustro's disturbing history of violence
DeLustro's history, including past complaints of misconduct during his tenure with the NYPD, has come under scrutiny. While two complaints of excessive force were dismissed, questions linger about his temperament and conduct in previous roles, reports the New York Post.
The Summerville Police Department, where DeLustro was employed, has taken swift action, placing him on administrative leave and subsequently terminating his employment following the murder charge. “This tragedy has devastated two families and we offer our deepest sympathies to both,” a statement from the department stated.
O'Neal's cousin has started a GoFundMe campaign aimed at assisting his parents with funeral costs. “We are all devastated at the untimely and violent death of our dear Michael–or Mike, Mikey, or O’Neal,” Amy Nail wrote. “As of this writing, there are many unanswered questions, and Michael’s family is respectfully waiting for SLED to perform a thorough investigation, which takes time,” she said.
