{"id":1866,"date":"2026-06-07T09:03:39","date_gmt":"2026-06-07T09:03:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southfloridamovingguides.com\/?p=1866"},"modified":"2026-06-07T09:03:39","modified_gmt":"2026-06-07T09:03:39","slug":"connecticut-police-officer-hugs-supporters-appears-in-court-in-fatal-shooting-of-black-man","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southfloridamovingguides.com\/?p=1866","title":{"rendered":"Connecticut police officer hugs supporters, appears in court in fatal shooting of Black man"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) \u2014 A white police officer in Connecticut who repeatedly shot a Black man suffering a mental health crisis while his colleagues tried to defuse the situation made his first court appearance Friday on a manslaughter charge, a brief hearing that attracted dozens of fellow officers who support him.<\/p>\n

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Joseph Magnano, 23, did not speak during the arraignment at Superior Court in Hartford but later hugged officers outside the courtroom. Many displayed badges over their street clothes.<\/p>\n

Magnano was fired 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\u2019s policies when responding to people in mental distress.<\/p>\n

The president of the local police union continued to defend Magnano while speaking to reporters Friday. The union has filed several grievances with the city over his firing, seeking to have him reinstated.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey told him he was a criminal for doing what he was trained to do,\u201d James Rutkauski said.<\/p>\n

Magnano’s lawyer, Patrick Tomasiewicz, declined to comment after the hearing. Free after posting $50,000 bail following his arrest last month, Magnano is due back in court on July 21. He is expected to enter a not guilty plea at some point.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Police body camera video shows three officers, over several minutes, repeatedly telling Jones to drop a knife. The officers also tell him they\u2019re there to help.<\/p>\n

\u201cSteve, you\u2019re OK. We\u2019re going to make sure you\u2019re OK,\u201d Officer James Prignano says. \u201cJust drop the knife. We\u2019re going to go talk to somebody, OK?\u201d<\/p>\n

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Jones can\u2019t be heard saying anything in the videos.<\/p>\n

About 12 minutes after the 911 call, Magnano arrives, draws his pistol and shouts at Jones to drop the knife, telling him, \u201cYou\u2019re going to get shot.\u201d A woman is heard screaming, \u201cDon\u2019t shoot him!\u201d<\/p>\n

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, about 30 seconds after he got out of his cruiser. Jones died four days later.<\/p>\n

Connecticut Inspector General Eliot Prescott, who filed the manslaughter charge and is prosecuting the case, said an investigation found Jones was not an imminent threat and the shooting was not justified.<\/p>\n

In his own incident report, Magnano, who had been on the force for a year and four months, said he was \u201cfearful of Jones making a sudden lunge towards either an officer or citizen.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hartford Police Chief James Rovella has not commented publicly on the shooting. He and several high-ranking officers also went to court Friday. \u201cIt’s too early to comment,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Jones\u2019 relatives did not attend the hearing but local NAACP officials were present Friday.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey take an oath to protect and serve,\u201d Corrie Betts, president of the Greater Hartford NAACP branch, said of police. \u201cSo when they\u2019re called to a mental health call and an individual ends up dead, is that protecting and serving?\u201d<\/p>\n

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HARTFORD, Conn. 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