Trooper Cleared In Shooting Of Knife-Wielding Malden Man

MALDEN, MA — No criminal charges will be filed against a Massachusetts State Police trooper who shot a knife-wielding Malden man in November, the Bristol District Attorney's office said.

The trooper was justified in shooting 62-year-old Steven Brawley, who refused repeated commands to drop his knife during an altercation with the trooper and a Malden police officer on Beach Street, the DA's office said. The case was referred to Bristol County investigators, who were sworn in as special assistant district attorneys by Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan.

Investigators said the shooting was "justified and necessitated by Brawley's conduct." The trooper "did not know Brawley and was not aware of either his extensive history of mental health issues or his prior history of police interactions before that day," the DA's office said.

The statement did not identify the trooper by name.

Around noon on Nov. 12, Brawley became agitated during an altercation at the customer service desk of a Revere Stop & Shop, striking an assistant manager multiple times with a shopping cart and bruising to her leg, investigators said.

After being told he would have to leave, Brawley spat in the assistant manager's face and told her, "I'm going to end your life," investigators said. Employees called 911 and followed Brawley out of the store to keep watch until police arrived.

An employee saw a state police cruiser outside Bridge Pizzeria on Washington Avenue and went inside to ask the trooper for help, the DA's office said. The trooper followed Brawley, who was walking down Washington Avenue toward Malden, and called out to him.

Investigators said Brawley pulled a knife in response, prompting the trooper to draw his weapon and tell the employees to again call 911. The trooper continued to follow Brawley with his weapon drawn, as a crowd of onlookers formed and a Malden police officer arrived at the scene, the DA's office said.

The Malden officer brought Brawley to the ground by pulling on his backpack. While Brawley was on the ground, the trooper tried to take his knife, but Brawley lunged at him and tried to stab him, the DA's office said.

The trooper shot Brawley once in the upper chest near his neck, investigators said. The bullet exited through his back.

Brawley stood back up, folded his knife and placed it in his pocket, the DA's office said. The trooper re-holstered his pistol, but Brawley continued to ignore commands to submit to police custody, investigators said.

Brawley threw a punch at the trooper when he and the other officer closed in to forcibly take him into custody, the DA's office said. He was brought to the ground and taken into custody.

Brawley survived the shooting and faces numerous charges stemming from both the altercations with Stop & Shop employees and with police officers, the DA's office said.

"Brawley's own actions created a situation justifying the trooper's use of lethal force," investigators said. "Further review of Brawley's actions on the day in question, as well as his overall history, reveal him to display erratic, violent, aggressive, and hostile behavior, which includes direct assaults on strangers and threats, including threats to kill."

Previously: Malden Man Shot By Police Identified

Police Shoot, Injure Knife-Wielding Man In Malden