Family of Man Killed in 2012 Officer-Involved Shooting Still Has Questions

The lawyer for the family of a Richfield man who police shot dead at his home last year told Fox 9 he sees "glaring inconsistencies about critical facts and critical moments just before and at the time of the shooting."

Attorney Bob Bennett said the family of Jeffrey O'Connor, who was 25 when he was killed last October, hasn't decided whether to file a civil lawsuit. A grand jury declined to criminally charge the officers involved in the death of the mentally ill man. Richfield police told Fox 9 it was too early to comment. 

According to Fox 9: 

Sgt. Mark Shelley, a 23-year ... veteran of the department, said in his interview that two of the officers each used a Taser on O'Connor; however, both said he immediately got back up in a threatening manner and thrashed the knife at one of the officers.

It was then that Shelley fired two shots, killing O'Connor inside the home. By mid-July, all three had been cleared of any wrongdoing—but the family remains unconvinced.

Related at Richfield Patch: 

• Officer-Involved Shooting in Richfield; Police Investigating
• Richfield Officer Shoots and Kills Man in Friday Incident
• Authorities Release Name of Man Killed in Officer-involved Shooting
• October Officer-Involved Shooting Still Under Review
• Police Chief Releases Statement, Names Officers Involved
• Grand Jury Clears Cop Who Fatally Shot 25yo Richfield Man

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