Former South Carolina officer charged in murder of Winston-Salem man was usually ‘very calm and mild,’ chief said
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (WGHP) — The Summerville Police Chief Doug Wright spoke out after a man who was, at the time, employed as an officer with SPD was accused of shooting and killing a man from Winston-Salem, North Carolina, outside of a Chick-fil-A in Summerville, South Carolina.
According to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, former Summerville Police Officer Anthony DeLustro, 64, is charged with murder in the death of 39-year-old Michael O’Neal, of Winston-Salem. DeLustro was off-duty when SLED says he “engaged in an altercation” at a Chick-fil-A in Summerville. He allegedly shot and killed O’Neal.
On Thursday, Wright told reporters that there was “confusion” as officers responded to the scene.
“There was a lot of confusion and chaos because they did not know that the officer was not in uniform or that he was a police officer,” Wright said. “People were calling in. It was very confusing to a lot of people, including the officers responding until they got on scene.”
As soon as officers arrived, they evaluated the situation and “immediately went and removed Mr. O’Neal from his vehicle and began rendering first aid upon Mr. O’Neal and I think the family needs to know that.”
SLED charges former Summerville officer with murder in shooting outside Chick-fil-A
When asked about DeLustro’s usual temperament, Wright said, he was “very calm and mild. Meek. Very well respected, and I know there’s going to be people watching this … saying, ‘How could you say this about somebody who’s been charged with murder?’ Because these are facts that you’re asking, I can tell you. If we had some kind of indication that he was anything but that he would not be allowed to continue his path in law enforcement, I’m sure.”
DeLustro had never been written up for misconduct. Wright said DeLustro had one use of force incident on record at SPD, which, he added, was determined to be “unfounded.” Wright did not share the details surrounding the incident but did emphasize that “use of force” includes acts such as pointing a taser or service weapon at a suspect in addition to force involving physical contact.
“How he got to the point where he decided or the decision was made to do what he did, we don’t know those answers,” Wright said.
Condolences
“There were some bad decisions made at that incident that day, and a young man with a whole life ahead of him, Michael O’Neal, lost his life,” Wright said.
The chief said the police department’s hearts go out to the O’Neal family and their friends, in addition to extending sympathy to DeLustro’s family.
“Their loss is devastating, and it’s not something we take lightly either here at the police department or in this community, so our hearts do go out to them,” Wright said. “Certainly, I will not compare this tragedy to the endurance that the DeLustro family has to feel, as well, as they navigate through this. Certainly, his family has essentially lost their loved one as well, through decisions that have been made.”
Wright also extended his sympathy to those who witnessed this incident.
“I want to say on our behalf as well to the family but we also want to speak to the employees and the patrons at Chick-fil-A that day, at Staples, the people who were stuck in traffic that were diverted, those are situations that people don’t ever want to have to witness in their lifetime ever,” he said.
Witness video
The video below shows the conflict before the homicide. The footage may be unsettling to some viewers.
The video shows the two men and a woman by a Hyundai Genesis. The two men appear to push each other before a vehicle crosses the frame. As the men reenter frame, one of the men, who is wearing a T-shirt and appears to be DeLustro, kicks the other, who is wearing a black shirt and appears to be O’Neal. The man in the black shirt steps back. The woman and the man in the T-shirt attempt to hold each other back. The man in the black shirt steps towards the man in the T-shirt, and the two men grapple each other. The video ends after another vehicle crosses into the frame.
O’Neal family reacts
The O’Neal family issued the following statement after the news of DeLustro’s arrest:
We appreciate the continued community outreach, support, and respect for 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.
We appreciate the work and dedication of the involved departments who have worked to get to this point.
O’Neal’s cousin and sister-in-law are managing a GoFundMe benefitting O’Neal’s parents.
“Michael’s family is respectfully waiting for SLED to perform a thorough investigation, which takes time,” the organizers said in the GoFundMe description. “Michael’s father was an officer with Winston-Salem police for over 30 years. This is a family that has a great deal of respect for law enforcement in general, yet is fully aware that no profession is free of bad actors. We remain optimistic that the SLED detectives will find the truth and bring about justice.
Summerville police react
On Wednesday, the Summerville Police Department released a statement, which said, in part, “This tragedy has devastated two families and we offer our deepest sympathies to both.”
The full statement from SPD is included below.
“On April 10, 2024, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) notified SPD of their impending charges against former Summerville Police department (SPD) Officer Anthony DeLustro. On Wednesday, March 20, 2024, in the interest of transparency and impartiality, Chief Doug Wright requested SLED assume the investigation into the incident which occurred at 1312 N. Main St. in Summerville, S.C. As the judicial process moves forward, the Summerville Police Department will continue to refer inquiries about the incident to SLED. This tragedy has devastated two families and we offer our deepest sympathies to both.
South Carolina law enforcement describe incident
SLED released an affidavit describing the incident, which took place on March 20.
According to the report, DeLustro, who was off-duty but employed by the Summerville Police Department at the time, got out of his vehicle and an “altercation ensued” with O’Neal. Witnesses said that the victim asked DeLustro “Do you want to do this?” several times, and DeLustro responded, “Come on you f—— f—–.” The two exchanged punches and kicks, and bystanders attempted to separate them.
During the fight, DeLustro allegedly told O’Neal he was under arrest. The officer reportedly took his law enforcement credentials out of his back pocket and presented them briefly before the two of them fell to the ground.
During the fight, DeLustro’s Springfield Armory CD handgun fell out of his holster onto the pavement. It landed behind his white Ford Edge.
O’Neal stepped back, and witnesses heard him say he wanted to leave. Investigators say they have evidence showing that O’Neal then tried to leave the fight and return to his Hyundai Genesis.
DeLustro’s wife had reportedly tried to physically restrain O’Neal during the fight and stop him from getting into his vehicle to leave.
A witness who was holding DeLustro allegedly heard the off-duty officer say that he would shoot O’Neal if he left.
DeLustro managed to break free from the witness who was holding him and grab his gun. DeLustro, armed with the gun, approached O’Neal’s vehicle, according to the report. DeLustro then opened the passenger side door and got into the vehicle. O’Neal told DeLustro to “get out of my car” as he started to drive away. DeLustro, who was partially seated in the passenger seat, reportedly fired one shot from his gun, which struck and killed O’Neal.
DeLustro told investigators that he was trying to stop O’Neal, who he knew was trying to leave. He said he did not see O’Neal with any weapon and O’Neal had not threatened to use a weapon.
“A reasonable person could not have reasonably believed that the victim posed a threat of imminent danger of death or serious bodily injury to others because the victim was unarmed, walked away from the altercation and attempted to leave in his vehicle,” SLED said in the report.
The report goes on to say that DeLustro “recklessly put himself in danger when he entered the victim’s vehicle armed with a handgun.”
DeLustro was fired from the police department after Summerville police were notified about his arrest. He appeared before a judge in bond court Wednesday night and begged the judge for mercy.
Summerville officer dragged by vehicle after altercation in Chick-fil-A parking lot, officials say
“Any mercy you can show me so I can be with them (family) and help them I would appreciate. My entire life was public service. I never did anything wrong. I never had one substantiated complaint in the 35 years I’ve been in law enforcement, and I just ask for your mercy so I can help my wife with the girls,” DeLustro said.
South Carolina Law Enforcement Division is continuing its investigation of the shooting. Delustro is set to make his initial appearance in court on June 14.
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