Hartford Demands Change After Police Shootings

0:00Hartford's public safety town hall got heated Friday night, with folks demanding real change after two men died from police shootings during mental. Health crises last month. Everard Walker got killed February 19th when his family called to 11 for help, and just eight days later, Steven Stevie Jones was shot. After a 9-1-1 call from his family, both had knives, but families wanted crisis support, not guns. The mayor stepped up hours before the meeting, firing rookie officer Joseph Magnano, the one who shot Jones nine times right after arriving on scene. He praised other cops for de-escalating better and body cam footage, saying Magnano didn't meet those standards. Still, the crowd of over 50 said firing one guy ain't enough. Community members vented about ongoing trauma from gun violence and weak mental health services. They called out officer Alexander Clifford, who shot Walker, still being on duty with no review or photo released. One resident asked for train crisis responders right there, saying the whole thing fell triggering with no real support on deck.

1:03Group site the North Hartford Public Safety Coalition pushed for the meeting after multiple reschedules, but tensions boiled when activists disrupted, with flyers demanding justice for Walker. The mayor's team says they've tried reaching Walker's family, but hit roadblocks, and no direct talk has happened yet. Meanwhile, at Jones' funeral the day before, Reverend Al Sharpton fired up the crowd for full accountability, bowing to keep fighting so no family. Faces this alone, Hartford's still grappling, waiting on debriefs and better plans to bridge the gaps. I'm Cory with the story. That's your Hartford News today update, AI powered and always on.