In March 2024, retired NYPD Sergeant and active Summerville Police Officer Anthony DeLustro was attacked in a restaurant parking lot in Summerville, South Carolina. The confrontation began when an irate driver, Michael O’Neal, took offense at how DeLustro positioned his vehicle while exiting the lot. O’Neal—larger, younger, and with a criminal record—assaulted DeLustro, knocking off his glasses and striking him repeatedly. Witnesses confirm that DeLustro identified himself as a police officer and displayed his badge. During the violent struggle, as O’Neal attempted to flee in his vehicle, he dragged and partially ran over DeLustro, and O’Neal was fatally wounded in the ensuing chaos.
Despite clear evidence that DeLustro acted in accordance with his training and lawful authority, prosecutors charged him with murder and attempted kidnapping. By doing so, they criminalized a veteran officer’s attempt to protect himself and restore order under attack. The decision to pursue such extreme charges reflects politics, not justice—a rush to satisfy public pressure at the expense of fairness.
Anthony DeLustro is a 64-year-old retired NYPD sergeant who served from 1980 to 2003, earning numerous commendations for bravery and narcotics enforcement. On September 11, 2001, he responded to the World Trade Center and was present during the collapse of Tower 7—service that later left him battling cancer and “Ground Zero lung.” After retiring to South Carolina, he continued to serve his community with the Summerville Police Department, the Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office, and the College of Charleston Police Department. He and his wife are guardians of two young granddaughters. DeLustro has never been disciplined and is universally respected by his peers.
This case is an outrageous miscarriage of justice. A decorated officer who spent more than four decades protecting others now faces prison for defending himself during a violent assault. The Law Enforcement Legal Defense Fund is committed to ensuring that Anthony DeLustro receives a fair trial and the defense he deserves.
Stand with Anthony DeLustro. Help us defend those who defend us.
