SAUGUS — The Essex District Attorney’s office on Tuesday announced that it has cleared Officer Sean Murphy of any wrongdoing in the fatal shooting of Stephanie Gerardi, 38, in the town more than a year ago.
Saugus Police were called to Gerardi’s home at 3 Alfred Road at 4:32 p.m. on Aug. 14, 2021, after her sister and cousin told police she was “making suicidal statements,” Essex County District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett’s office said in a statement. Saugus Police had assisted Gerardi in the past.
Four officers were dispatched to the Alfred Road home and found Gerardi inside. After a brief conversation, she allegedly turned suddenly to the kitchen where she got a large kitchen knife and proceeded to advance rapidly at the officers with the knife overhead.
Murphy then fired his weapon three times, killing Gerardi.
“Judging the actions of Officer Sean Murphy from the perspective of a reasonable officer at the scene, and in that moment in time, the shooting of Stephanie Gerardi does not support criminal charges against Officer Murphy,” Blodgett said in the statement. “At the moment that he shot and killed Gerardi, Officer Murphy reasonably believed that his life and that of Officer David Harris were in imminent danger.”
As part of the investigation, Blodgett’s office conducted a review of interviews with witnesses and responding officers, evidence collected at the scene, police radio transmissions, evidence and witness statements from the scene, information from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, and information from the State Police Crime Scene Services, Crime Lab, and Firearm Identification Section.
The matter has been referred to Saugus Police for whatever internal administrative review is deemed appropriate, Blodgett’s office said.
Charlie McKenna can be reached at [email protected].
