SLED charges former Summerville officer with murder in shooting outside Chick-fil-A
SUMMERVILLE, S.C. (WCBD) – A former Summerville officer has been charged with murder by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, the agency said Wednesday afternoon.
The charge stems from a March 20th altercation between the off-duty officer and a man outside a Chick-fil-A restaurant on North Main Street which ended in a deadly shooting.
Affidavits provided by SLED show the officer, Anthony DeLustro, was off-duty when he engaged in a confrontation with the victim, Michael O’Neal. Documents say DeLustro exited his vehicle and an altercation ensued.
SLED confirms off-duty Summerville officer shot man during altercation
Witnesses told authorities that DeLustro was the aggressor and said that after the two exited their vehicles, the victim asked the off-duty officer “Do you want to do this?” several times to which DeLustro replied, “Come on you f*****g f****t.” Punches and kicks were then exchanged between the two.
Bystanders attempted to separate the two, but the men continued to exchange blows, the report said.
At some point during the scuffle, DeLustro told O’Neal that he was under arrest and pulled his Summerville Police Department credentials from his back pocket, and presented them before they fell to the ground. DeLustro’s handgun also fell from his holster onto the pavement.
“As the fight continued, the victim disengaged, and an eyewitness heard the victim say he wanted to leave,” the affidavit said. “Evidence showed that the victim then disengaged and retreated from the physical altercation with Anthony DeLustri and returned to his vehicle.”
A witness who was restraining DeLustro heard the off-duty officer tell O’Neal that he would shoot him if he left. He then broke free, picked up his handgun from the pavement, and then re-engaged O’Neal with the weapon.
DeLustro opened the victim’s passenger side door and entered the vehicle while armed with his handgun. O’Neal told DeLustro to “get out of my car,” and began to drive away while DeLustro was still partially seated and fired a single shot from his gun.
O’Neal was shot and killed at the scene.
Affidavits show that DeLustro acknowledged that he knew O’Neal was attempting to leave the area and that it was his own intent to stop him. He also admitted he never saw the victim with a firearm or another weapon, nor ever threatened to use a weapon of any kind.
Documents also state that DeLustro’s wife attempted to physically restrain O’Neal during the altercation and when the man tried to leave in his vehicle.
DeLustro was taken to a local hospital for a non-life-threatening injury, Summerville PD said at the time.
“…in the interest of transparency and impartiality, Chief Doug Wright requested SLED assume the
investigation into the incident,” the agency said.
Employment information provided by Summerville PD shows DeLustro has over 30 years in law enforcement, including beginning his career with the New York City Police Department in 1980 and two stints with the Summerville Police Department.
DeLustro was placed on administrative leave after the incident; however, Summerville PD said he was a former officer in their Wednesday afternoon update.
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