The somber mood in The First Cathedral in Bloomfield on Thursday was overcast by chants and demands for reform as the community lay to rest 55-year-old Steven Jones, who was shot and killed by a Hartford police officer during a mental health crisis last month.
“This is a difficult time for me,” Jones’ sister, Audrey, told news crews before the services.
Standing beside 71-year-old Rev. Al Sharpton, Audrey Jones said she never would have called for an ambulance if she knew it was going to end with a police officer fatally shooting her brother on Feb. 27.
“And I just asked that you pray for me and my family during these trying times,” Audrey Jones said.
Her remarks were met by a number of chants of “Justice for Stevie.”
Sharpton, a civil rights and social justice activist, delivered Steven Jones’s eulogy. In a news briefing before the funeral and throughout the eulogy, Sharpton was critical of Officer Joseph Magnano of the Hartford Police Department, who shot Steven Jones nine times shortly after arriving at the scene on Blue Hills Avenue in Hartford.
Aaron Flaum/Hartford Courant
Audrey Jones, Steven Jones’ sister, stands with attorney Ben Crump and Rev. Al Sharpton as she speaks during services at The First Cathedral in Bloomfield on Thursday, March 26, 2026. (Aaron Flaum/Hartford Courant)
“This policeman came after three policemen were already on the scene, and he decided to execute him within 90 seconds,” Sharpton said. “How does he explain his behavior over the other policemen? Because he will have to defend what made him shoot.
“And the police that had been there minutes before, they didn’t see a threat. If they didn’t feel threatened, how did he feel threatened?” he asked.
Nationally recognized civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who is representing Steven Jones’ family, said one of the first things Audrey Jones expressed to him was that it almost felt like her brother’s life did not matter when he was gunned down by police.
“Your brother mattered,” Crump told her. “Your brother will always matter.”
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Crump called on Hartford Mayor Arunan Arulampalam, Hartford police Chief James C. Rovella and other leadership in the city “to make sure that they help heal this community.”
“It first starts with this family and doing right by this family,” Crump said.
Before Sharpton and others spoke, dozens of family and friends gathered to pay their respects at an open casket at the cathedral on Blue Hills Avenue.
Arulampalam could be seen speaking to Steven Jones’ family ahead of the services and offering condolences. Arulampalam’s state of the city speech earlier this week was interrupted by protestors demanding to know what he was doing for the families of Steven Jones and 53-year-old Everard Walker, who was shot and killed by a police officer in Hartford eight days earlier. Walker was also experiencing a mental health episode.
Protestors called for both officers to be fired and pressed Arulampalam about what actions he’s taking.
Aaron Flaaum/Hartford Courant
Rev. Al Sharpton delivers the eulogy during Steven Jones’ funeral at The First Cathedral in Bloomfield on Thursday, March 26, 2026. (Aaron Flaaum/Hartford Courant)
Steven Jones was shot nine times by Magnano after his sister called 911 and said he had a knife, was experiencing a mental health crisis and had cut himself, according to a preliminary report from the Connecticut Office of Inspector General. The first officer on scene found Steven Jones outside of a home and was able to keep his distance from him despite him walking out onto the street toward the officer, body camera footage shows.
The officer unsuccessfully tried to use a taser before two other officers arrived as backup and formed a circle around Steven Jones with their guns drawn, while making repeated calls for him to drop the knife, the bodycam footage shows. Police appeared to get him to stop making advances on officers before Magnano arrived and approached them. Magnano immediately began shouting for Steven Jones to drop the blade, at which point he began walking toward the policeman, who backed up in the street.
Magnano made multiple demands to drop the knife and told him he would be shot before firing nine shots. Steven Jones was rushed to a hospital, where he died on March 3.
“It is so unnecessary,” Crump said. “It is so unjustifiable.”
Aaron Flaum/Hartford Courant
Rev. Al Sharpton walks with Audrey Jones to pay respects to her brother, Steven Jones, as he lies in his coffin before services at The First Cathedral in Bloomfield on Thursday, March 26, 2026. (Aaron Flaum/Hartford Courant)
Crump said the other officers on scene spent several minutes trying to de-escalate the situation before Magnano, who he referred to as “Rambo,” arrived.
“This officer comes in, in less than 30 seconds yells a few commands out and then unloads his clip in broad daylight,” Crump said.
“If the other officers didn’t shoot, then why did he shoot?” Crump asked.
Audrey Jones described her brother — who left behind two children — as loving, kind and compassionate. She said he was known in the neighborhood for his warm, friendly spirit.
Steven Jones was a devoted father, a proud grandfather, a cherished brother and a beloved uncle, his sister said.
“On behalf of our entire family, we miss you deeply Stevie,” Audrey Jones said. “And you will forever remain in our hearts.”
Aaron Flaum/Hartford Couran
Pallbearers carry out Steven Jones after services at The First Cathedral in Bloomfield on Thursday, March 26, 2026. (Aaron Flaum/Hartford Courant)
The shooting of Steven Jones occurred only days after Walker’s family phoned 211 and said he was experiencing a mental health issue at his apartment on Capitol Avenue, the preliminary report released by Inspector General Eliot Prescott said. Two social workers asked for police to also respond to the apartment, where they spent nearly an hour speaking to Walker through an open door, the report said.
Police entered the apartment when Walker allegedly tried to close the door as he was being restrained by his son, who was one of several family members at the scene, according to the report. Officer Alexander Clifford shot Walker multiple times during a scuffle after a second officer fell down and Walker raised a knife. The preliminary report said Walker appeared intent on stabbing the policeman.
The fatal shootings have led to multiple protests, calls for police accountability and have raised concerns about how individuals experiencing mental health issues are handled.
“Mental health is an epidemic in America,” Crump said. “When we call 911, like Audrey, we expect a helping hand, not nine bullets in his body.”
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Sharpton said he believes Hartford leadership needs to conduct a “thorough retake” of how police are trained to handle mental health calls.
“Families cannot be the ones responsible,” Sharpton said. “Any of us could have someone in our families with mental health. But are we now to fear that if we call the police, rather than get help, that we’re going to get them killed?”
“We are going to stand with Audrey in this case because this case represents mental health victims of all races all over this country,” Sharpton said.
“We can’t bring him back, but we can certainly make sure that he’s not forgotten,” Sharpton said. “We’re standing up for all mental health issues in America. Let this young man be a symbol to those that need help, not hurt, and that need to be responded to, not taken out.”
The shootings of Steven Jones and Walker remain under investigation by Prescott, who will determine if the officers’ actions were justified under Connecticut law.
Crump called on Prescott to conduct a prompt investigation into the shooting of Steven Jones. With all the cameras that showed what happened, he said there’s no reason the investigation should take a year or longer.