Michael Patrick O'Neal, a 39-year-old male, tragically lost his life on March 20, 2024, in Summerville, South Carolina, following an altercation in a Chick-fil-A parking lot. The incident led to the arrest of an off-duty police officer.
The conflict began as a confrontation between O'Neal and Anthony DeLustro, a 64-year-old officer with the Summerville Police Department. According to a warrant, a witness identified DeLustro as the 'primary aggressor' in the encounter.
The verbal dispute escalated into a physical fight, with both men throwing punches and kicks as bystanders made efforts to intervene and separate them.
During the struggle, DeLustro reportedly announced he was a police officer and that O'Neal was under arrest. O'Neal then disengaged from the fight and attempted to leave by walking towards his vehicle. Authorities allege that DeLustro, who had been held back by a bystander, broke free and threatened to kill O'Neal if he drove away. His firearm had reportedly fallen to the ground during the fight.
As O'Neal got into his car, DeLustro is said to have entered the passenger side. While O'Neal started to drive, DeLustro allegedly shot and killed him. Following the incident, DeLustro reportedly told investigators that his intention was to prevent O'Neal from leaving the scene. The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division investigated the shooting, and DeLustro was subsequently arrested and charged with murder.
