An argument in Summerville, South Carolina on the afternoon of March 20, resulted in the death of a North Carolina man and injuries to an off-duty police officer. Michael P. O’Neal, 39, was confirmed dead, while the officer, Anthony DeLustro, sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
The incident occurred around 1 pm near a Chick-fil-A establishment on North Main Street and is currently under investigation by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED). Further details about the altercation are yet to be disclosed.
According to Berkeley County Coroner Darnell Hartwell, O’Neal died from a gunshot wound. The events leading up to the altercation are still under probe, as investigators strive to ascertain the sequence of events on that day.
The unnamed off-duty Summerville Police officer involved was hit by a vehicle, suffering non-life-threatening injuries. The officer was then taken to a local hospital for treatment. Captain Chris Hirsch of the Summerville Police Department highlighted that the injuries were a result of the vehicle collision, not a firearm.
Coroner Hartwell stated, “Our job is to find the facts and that is what we are here to do today. We understand that people are getting off in-between jobs and things like that but again that’s a part of the process to make sure that we investigate these cases very thoroughly.”
This marks the second officer-involved shooting in Summerville for the year 2024, leading to a comprehensive law enforcement response and investigation.
For several hours following the incident, the surrounding areas of the Chick-fil-A and North Main Street were closed off, causing considerable disruption to local traffic as investigators worked on the scene.
The Summerville Police Department, in response to the incident, advised the public to avoid the area to enable smooth operation of the ongoing investigation. The intense police activity in the area underscores the gravity with which the local authorities are handling the situation.
Family members of O’Neal have stated that he had no animosity towards the police. O’Neal’s cousin, Tom Nail, confirmed that O’Neal was the individual seen in the black shirt in the incident footage. Nail expressed his belief that the incident might have taken a different turn had O’Neal known he was interacting with a law enforcement officer.
Nail stated, “Michael would’ve never fought a cop. Had he known he was dealing with a police officer, I doubt there would’ve been any altercation. Michael was the kind of guy who would’ve stopped in his tracks.”
“He was a giving person, always ready to help family, friends, and anyone in need. He never missed an opportunity to share a smile,” Nail added.
