MONCKS CORNER, S.C. – A South Carolina judge is deliberating whether to set bond for a former police officer charged with murder following a fatal off-duty encounter in a fast-food parking lot.
Anthony DeLustro, 65, has been in custody since his April 10 arrest stemming from the March 20 incident. During a recent hearing, Circuit Judge Deadra Jefferson indicated a decision on the bond request would come by week’s end. The case revolves around a confrontation in Summerville at a Chick-fil-A, where DeLustro attempted to prevent Michael O’Neal from driving away, escalating to a deadly shooting.
Court documents reveal that during the incident, DeLustro entered O’Neal’s vehicle and, as the car began to move with him inside, fired at O’Neal. DeLustro, supported at his hearing by a crutch, is contending with injuries from that day, his attorney Joseph Cannarella mentioned.
Cannarella argued for DeLustro’s release, asserting that his client poses no flight risk and is unlikely to engage in further violence, as supported by a medical evaluation. However, Solicitor Scarlet Wilson advocated for continued detention, citing DeLustro’s personnel records that highlight issues with temper, stress, and anger.
The altercation that led to O’Neal’s death began when DeLustro reportedly initiated a confrontation, using derogatory language and asserting O’Neal was under arrest, despite being off duty. The dispute quickly escalated from verbal to physical. According to investigators, DeLustro’s firearm was dislodged during the skirmish; his wife and a bystander intervened, attempting to control the situation as it unfolded.
Eyewitnesses and state agents note that DeLustro managed to retrieve his gun and enter O’Neal’s vehicle as he attempted to flee, where he then shot O’Neal. Although DeLustro claimed self-defense, authorities argue that he unnecessarily escalated the encounter, placing himself in a dangerous position where O’Neal posed no imminent threat.
The background leading to the altercation remains partially unexplained by officials, though it is clear that DeLusto declaring an arrest was a critical factor. If convicted, he faces a sentence ranging from 30 years to life imprisonment. His dismissal from the Summerville Police Department ensued shortly after the incident.
This case highlights ongoing debates over the conduct expectations of off-duty officers and the legal interpretations of self-defense, particularly when an officer instigates an altercation. As the community and legal spectators await the judge’s ruling on DeLustro’s bond request, many also look toward the broader implications such cases may have on public trust and law enforcement protocols.
The outcome of the bond hearing, expected later this week, will determine if DeLustro will await his trial in jail or under conditional release. Meanwhile, the community remains divided, with many calling for a thorough examination of off-duty law enforcement behavior and accountability in incidents of violence.