A former police officer from Summerville, South Carolina, has been charged with murder following a fatal altercation in a Chick-fil-A parking lot, according to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED). The incident, which took place on March 20, resulted in the death of 39-year-old Michael O'Neal.
Anthony DeLustro, 64, a former officer with the Summerville Police Department, is accused of being the primary aggressor in the altercation. Witnesses state that DeLustro told O'Neal he was under arrest during the fight. When O'Neal attempted to leave the scene, DeLustro allegedly threatened to shoot him.
According to SLED, DeLustro entered O'Neal's car on the passenger side as O'Neal began to drive away. It was then that DeLustro fired a single shot from his handgun, resulting in O'Neal's death. DeLustro claimed he used deadly force because he believed he could not extricate his legs from beneath the moving vehicle. However, eyewitness accounts and video evidence do not corroborate DeLustro's claims.
In a statement to WXII, O'Neal's family expressed their appreciation for the community's support and respect for their privacy during this difficult time. "Today the family was notified of the arrest of Anthony DeLustro for the murder of Michael O'Neal. As we continue to mourn our loss, we are hopeful that justice will prevail," the family said.
DeLustro, who began his law enforcement career in New York City, moved to South Carolina in 2003. He faces 30 years to life in prison if convicted of murder. The investigation, led by SLED, is ongoing.
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