Stephenson King Jr.: Mental Illness and Fatal Boston Police Encounter

The Suffolk County District Attorney has charged Boston police officer Nicholas O’Malley with manslaughter following the fatal shooting of 39-year-old Stephenson King Jr. In Roxbury on March 11.

The charge follows an investigation into the incident in which O’Malley shot King three times. According to Boston police, King had stolen a vehicle and was accelerating toward officers when O’Malley fired, stating he feared another officer would be run over.

The District Attorney’s office stated that body camera footage from the night of the shooting contradicts the account provided by the officer, leading to the manslaughter charge.

Mental Health Crisis and Timeline

The family of Stephenson King Jr. Says he was experiencing a severe mental health crisis at the time of his death. His father, Stephenson King Sr., stated that his son had been battling paranoia and psychosis.

On March 11, hours before the shooting occurred, King Sr. Called 911 to seek help for his son. Emergency medical technicians responded to the home and transported King Jr. To a hospital on a stretcher.

King Jr. Was released from the hospital shortly after. He later ended up at another location where he was confronted by Officer O’Malley and Officer Ho, resulting in the fatal encounter.

Family members, including King Sr., three sisters, and his father’s fiancé, reported that King Jr.’s condition had worsened in the days leading up to March 11. They stated they had attempted to have him involuntarily committed, but those requests were denied.

I work in the system and to see my son go on the way he’s gone is very brokenhearted.

Stephenson King Sr.

Demands for Transparency

On April 10, 2026, the family and civil rights attorney Ben Crump held a public appearance in Roxbury to demand accountability and the release of the body camera video from the incident.

The Suffolk County District Attorney has refused to release the footage, stating that doing so would jeopardize the ongoing investigation.

Ben Crump, who represents the family, disagreed with the decision to withhold the video. He argued that the content of the footage would not change regardless of when it is made public.

I believe the video is going to be the video. Whether that’s released today or it’s released next year, the video isn’t going to change.

Ben Crump

Newscenter 5 also filed a public records request for the body camera footage, but the request was denied. The news organization is currently appealing that decision.

The family continues to call for equal justice under the law and full transparency regarding the events that led to the death of King Jr.