Civil rights attorney Ben Crump on Monday publicly criticized the fatal police shooting of Stephenson King Jr., urging accountability and answers for the man’s family as questions continue to surround the incident.
King, 39, was shot three times by Boston police officer Nicholas O’Malley on March 11. According to reports, the confrontation followed allegations that King carjacked a woman outside a pizza restaurant, crashed into a police cruiser, and then tried to flee in the stolen vehicle. Authorities say the situation escalated quickly, ending with O’Malley opening fire.
Crump addressed the case in a post on Instagram, focusing on the impact of King’s death on his family and calling for transparency as the legal process unfolds. He argued that the circumstances demand a full accounting of what happened and said the family deserves clear answers.
“His family is now forced to carry the pain of a loss that should never have happened,” Crump wrote, adding that the decision to arrest and charge the officer reflects the seriousness of the case.
He said efforts to pursue justice would continue until the family receives what he described as accountability that is neither delayed nor denied.
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The case has drawn added attention due to King’s extensive criminal history. Court records show he faced 47 prior charges in Boston over roughly two decades, including allegations of breaking and entering, strangulation, and firearms offenses. At the time of the shooting, he was out on bail for multiple felony cases and had an outstanding warrant. A judge had previously released him without bail months earlier.
District Attorney Kevin Hayden has charged O’Malley with manslaughter, a move that signals prosecutors believe the use of force may have been unjustified under the circumstances. Hayden, who is currently seeking reelection, has not publicly detailed all the evidence behind the decision, but the charge alone has intensified debate around the case.
Support for O’Malley has also been visible. A fundraising campaign created for the officer and his family has raised more than $500,000, citing financial uncertainty and the strain on his household, which includes two young children. Dozens of fellow officers attended his arraignment, underscoring backing within parts of the law enforcement community.
Crump, who is known for representing families in high-profile cases involving police use of force, has continued to frame incidents like this as part of a broader push for accountability.
Earlier this year, he spoke out in a separate case involving the death of Keith Porter Jr., who was killed by an off-duty federal agent. In that instance as well, Crump emphasized the need for transparency and justice, themes he has returned to again in the case of Stephenson King Jr.
