Page 8 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, AUGUST 19, 2022 INVESTIGATION | FROM PAGE 7 dem, in marked cruisers, towards 3 Alfred Rd. The offi cers did not utilize lights or sirens. Offi cer Zelinski was the most familiar with the address but all were aware that Stephanie had a history of running and could become combative when learning she was being sectioned. Offi cer Zelinski overshot the address and parked his cruiser in such a way that he could cut Stephanie off if she fl ed. The other three pulled up in the area of, but not in front of, 3 Alfred Road. As the most senior offi cer on scene, it was understood that Officer Murphy would take the lead role. Offi - cer Roy went to the rear of the home in case Stephanie tried to run. As Officers Murphy and Harris approached on foot, they observed the front door open and saw Deanna Gerardi standing inside. Deanna gestured to her left and Stephanie emerged from the hallway. By this time Offi - cers Murphy and Harris were in the home. 3 Alfred Road is a cape style single level home with a fi nished basement. As you enter the home the living room is to your left, directly ahead of you, down a short hall is the kitchen. Just before you reach the kitchen the hall turns to the right leading you to the bedrooms. There is a half wall that divides the front hall way from the living room. Above the half wall is a decorative wooden structure. As a result, once you are past the initial entrance and access to the living room, you are in a hallway leading to the kitchen. The hallway is narrow at 3.514 feet wide. This is where Offi cers Harris and Murphy had reached when Stephanie emerged. Offi cer Harris was abreast of but just behind Offi cer Murphy due to the narLaw Offices of Terrence W. Kennedy 512 Broadway, Everett • Criminal Defense • Personal Injury • Medical Malpractice Tel: (617) 387-9809 Cell: (617) 308-8178 twkennedylaw@gmail.com row width of the hall. As she emerged, Officer Murphy observed Stephanie to have something white and crusty around her mouth. It was immediately apparent to both offi cers that Stephanie was unwell. Deanna moved into the kitchen and busied herself with the trash as she did not want to watch Stephanie be taken into custody. Deanna’s 13-year-old son and boyfriend, James Piantedosi, were both in the house but in bedrooms with the doors shut at the time. Stephanie greeted the offi cers and they responded in kind. Stephanie told Officer Murphy that he was handsome and asked if she could give him a hug. Offi cer Murphy responded something to the eff ect of that wouldn’t be a good idea with Covid. Stephanie turned to Offi cer Harris and said “I bet you have a big dick.” She then asked the officers “are you guys going to shoot me?” Offi cer Murphy told her not to be ridiculous and took a half step towards her to guide her away from the kitchen. As he did this Stephanie pivoted into the kitchen and Murphy saw her reaching towards a wooden block on the counter. Deanna heard a portion of the conversation between Stephanie and the offi cers and saw Stephanie reach for the knife but did not see what happened next. Stephanie turned back holding a large kitchen knife which she raised over her head; she began moving rapidly towards the offi cers in the hallway. Both offi cers un-holstered their guns and Murphy yelled at her to drop the knife.4 Offi cer Murphy tried to back up but Harris was behind OUR OFFICE HAS MOVED TO 519 BROADWAY, EVERETT SABATINO INSURANCE AGENCY 519 BROADWAY EVERETT, MA 02149 PHONE: (617) 387-7466 FAX: (617) 381-9186 Visit us online at: Rocco Longo, Owner WWW.SABATINO-INS.COM him and both were trapped between the half wall and the hallway wall. Offi cer Murphy assured himself that Deanna was not in the line of fi re and fired three times at Stephanie. Offi cer Harris did not fi re only because he was concerned about fi ring over Offi cer Murphy. Stephanie collapsed to the fl oor and Offi - cer Murphy radioed for the ambulance to be stepped up and went to render aid. Deanna was screaming. Deanna’s boyfriend emerged from a bedroom demanding to know what was going on and, in one offi cer’s account, Deanna stated in response to Piantedosi that “she charged them with a knife and they shot her.” Offi cer Roy had heard the shots and also entered the home. He and Offi cer Harris went to secure Deanna and Piantedosi in a bedroom. They realized Deanna’s 13-year-old son was in a bedroom and reunited him with the adults. Unbeknownst to Offi cers Murphy and Harris, EMTs had been stationed outside and were immediately directed into the home where they determined that Stephanie was already deceased. EMTs observed Stephanie on her back with one arm raised over her head. They observed ballistics evidence and a knife with blood in the vicinity of her body. They covered her with a sheet for the sake of the family. Sergeant Steven Rappa was the OIC for the Saugus Police that evening. After roll call he returned to his offi ce which is in the dispatch area. He was aware of the dispatch to 3 Alfred Road. As soon as he heard Officer Murphy requesting the ambulance be stepped up he raced to 3 Alfred Road. When he arrived, Offi cer Murphy was on the lawn. He entered the home and observed the knife and a shell casing. He then directed Offi cers Zelinsky and Roy to clear the home as it was now an active crime scene. S ergeant Rappa went outside and was walking Offi cer Murphy to an ambulance when Stacey Gerardi arrived and got out of the car screaming “what happened?” Both Sergeant Rappa and Offi - cer Murphy heard Deanna Gerardi respond, “She ran at him with a knife, she ran at him with a knife.” A total of 5 EMTs ultimately arrived at the scene in two vehicles. Their focus shifted once they pronounced Stephanie. Officers Murphy and Harris, though uninjured, were transported to the hospital per protocol. A second ambulance remained on scene to assist the family should they need any medical aid. One of the EMTs, Jeremy Salerno, reports that he overheard a woman who had been identifi ed to him as one of Stephanie’s sisters on the phone with someone saying “she had a knife and they shot her,” Lynnfi eld police offi cer Scott Fitzemeyer arrived on scene as Deanna and other family members were being escorted from the home. He observed Stacey arrive and ask what had happened and heard Deanna respond, “she ran at them.” Forensic Reports Ballistics evidence collected from the scene consisted of three discharged shell casings and two projectiles. A third projectile was recovered at autopsy. A kitchen knife measuring eleven inches was also recovered at the scene. The completed autopsy and toxicology reports were reviewed. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined the cause of death of Stephanie Gerardi to be multiple gunshot wounds. She was shot once in the head and twice in the torso. Stephanie’s toxicology was notable for the absence of the presence of any ethanol. Conclusion Judging the actions of Officer Murphy from the perspective of a reasonable offi cer at the scene and in that moment in time, the shooting of Stephanie Gerardi does not support criminal homicide charges against Offi cer Murphy. At the moment that he shot and killed Gerardi, Officer Murphy reasonably believed that his life and that of Officer Harris were in imminent danger. Based upon all of the evidence in this case, this Office will not pursue criminal homicide charges against Officer Murphy. Footnotes to the report 1 Because Ms. Gerardi shares a last name with two witnesses, she will be referred to by her fi rst name throughout this memorandum. 2 Saugus Police records indicate they last assisted in sectioning Stephanie on February 19, 2019. 3 “QS statements” generally refer to suicidal statements. 4 Deanna Gerardi denies hearing the offi cers give any verbal commands to Stephanie once she was armed. Please note: Some typographical errors in the report have been corrected and the footnotes have been moved to the end.
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