The Rev. Al Sharpton will give the eulogy at the funeral service for Steven Jones on Thursday, according to the Connecticut Chapter of the NAACP.
Jones, 55, was shot by a Hartford police officer while he was experiencing a mental health crisis on Feb. 27. He died almost a week later.
Police were called by a family member of Jones around 11 a.m. on Feb. 27 “to seek assistance because Jones was having an acute mental health crisis,” according to a preliminary status report by the Office of the Inspector General.
The family member said Jones cut himself and had a knife in his hand. When officers arrived at 687 Blue Hills Ave., Jones was standing at the entrance to his apartment with the “large knife,” according to the report.
Three police officers repeatedly told Jones to drop the knife as he stood in the street.
A fourth officer, Joseph Magnano, arrived at the scene and ordered Jones to drop the knife. Jones walked towards Officer Magnano with the knife still in his hand. At that point Magnano shot Jones nine times, according to the report.
Jones’ family is being represented by prominent civil rights attorney Ben Crump as they say they are exploring all of their legal options to seek justice.
Jones’ homegoing services are being held at the First Cathedral at 1151 Blue Hills Avenue in Bloomfield begining at 12 p.m. on Thursday.
