A Boston police officer is now facing a manslaughter charge, the fallout from a shooting last week that has ignited intense scrutiny. Officer Nicholas O’Malley, 33, of Randolph, Massachusetts, stood before a judge in Roxbury District Court, entering a plea of not guilty amidst a silent show of support from dozens of fellow officers who filled the courtroom.
The charges stem from the death of 39-year-old Stephenson King, who authorities say was shot by O’Malley during an encounter following a reported carjacking. The initial call came from a woman on Tremont Street, claiming she’d been assaulted and her vehicle stolen by a man later identified as King.
According to court documents, O’Malley and another officer approached the stolen vehicle, weapons drawn, issuing commands for King to show his hands, turn off the ignition, and unlock the doors. King partially complied, raising his hands and opening the window slightly, but didn’t fully follow instructions.
The situation escalated rapidly. Investigators allege O’Malley issued a stark warning – a profanity-laced threat to shoot – before King attempted to flee, reversing the vehicle into a police cruiser and then shifting between reverse and drive. It was then, as the car moved forward again, that O’Malley fired three shots into the driver’s side window.
King managed to drive a short distance before crashing into a stone wall. Despite immediate attempts at life-saving measures by responding officers, he was later pronounced dead at a hospital. The autopsy revealed three gunshot wounds – two to the torso and one lodged in the passenger seat.
O’Malley’s initial claim to investigators was that King “tried to run us over.” However, this account was directly challenged by body camera footage and witness statements. Evidence suggests neither officer was in the path of the vehicle at the moment the shots were fired.
Investigators determined O’Malley’s belief that his partner was in imminent danger – the justification he offered for using deadly force – was not reasonable given the circumstances. This finding is particularly significant given Massachusetts law, which restricts officers from firing at moving vehicles unless there’s an immediate threat of harm, and mandates proportionate force.
A search of King and the vehicle yielded no weapons. The case now hinges on the interpretation of those crucial moments, the evidence captured on body cameras, and the legal standards governing the use of force by law enforcement. O’Malley has been released on his own recognizance, required to surrender all firearms, and is scheduled to return to court in May.
The District Attorney’s office has declined to release the body camera footage publicly, citing the ongoing investigation. The shooting has already sparked debate and demands for transparency, leaving the community grappling with questions of accountability and justice.
