Family of Iraq War vet killed by police wants federal investigation

LYNN – The family of an Iraq War veteran fatally shot by Lynn Police in 2013 is asking for a federal investigation into the incident, while criticizing awards recently given to the officers involved.”‘Til this day, we haven’t gotten any justice and now they’re slapping us in the face by giving an honor to these gentlemen,” Yessenia Reynoso, the sister of the deceased, Denis Reynoso, said Sunday. “At the end of the day, we want justice.”Lynn Police Chief Kevin Coppinger said Sunday the department would fully cooperate with any federal investigation into what he called “a tragic event,” but said the officers prevented further deaths.”The officers were put into a very dangerous situation last year, and it is very tragic that there was a loss of life and my sympathies go out to the family,” Coppinger said. “I do believe the actions taken by the officers prevented what could have been additional lives lost.”Officers John Bernard, Joshua Hilton and Paul Scali were awarded the Trooper George L. Hanna Award for bravery by Gov. Deval Patrick in a State House ceremony Wednesday. Hanna was a nine-year State Police veteran and 36-year-old father of three when he was fatally shot during a 1983 traffic stop in Auburn. The award is the commonwealth’s highest law-enforcement honor.Coppinger nominated the Lynn officers in recognition of their efforts to subdue Reynoso, who was ultimately fatally shot by one of the officers after reportedly grabbing another officer’s gun.Lynn Police responded Sept. 5, 2013 to a report of a disturbance on O’Callaghan Way with a man, later identified as Reynoso, “screaming and acting irrationally,” according to a report by Essex District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett.Officers were directed to Reynoso’s home and told Reynoso was an Iraq War veteran who had post-traumatic stress disorder, according to the report. Bernard and Scali reportedly knocked on the home’s door and identified themselves as police. Reynoso answered the door while yelling and swearing and said he did not need any help, Blodgett reported.The two officers followed Reynoso inside his home and Bernard (himself a Marine combat veteran) tried to talk to Reynoso while Scali went to let Hilton in the back door, according to the district attorney’s report. Reynoso reportedly lunged at Bernard, grabbing the officer’s gun and holding it to the officer’s head.According to the district attorney’s report, Reynoso fired Bernard’s weapon twice, deafening Scali. Hilton, according to the report, repeatedly yelled, “I am going to shoot him,” in order to warn Reynoso and Bernard before firing a single shot. Reynoso died later that afternoon at Lynn Union Hospital.Blodgett concluded in his January 2014 report on the incident that police were justified in using lethal force. The report found that Reynoso was able to get control of the gun because Bernard’s holster was missing a tension screw that tightened it and was “somewhat worn.” Reynoso’s 5-year-old son was in the room during the incident.Reynoso’s widow, Jessica Spinney, disputed the district attorney’s report and described the incident as police brutality.”They do an investigation on their own people, of course they are going to say they aren’t guilty,” Spinney said Sunday. She noted the report found that there was no gunshot residue on Reynoso’s hands. She also said that police had no reason to go into the house without a warrant.Yessenia Reynoso said the officers’ recent awards shocked her and prompted her to send a letter to the Department of Justice’s chief civil rights division and request a federal investigation.”It’s not fair for our family to go through this again, they already took him away from us,” Yessenia Reynoso said.She said the justice department has acknowledged receiving the request but she has not heard whether the agency will conduct an investigation.Coppinger said Lynn Police will cooperate fully with any investigation.”If the Department of Justice wants to come in and do an investigation,