Boston Cop Accused of On-Duty Manslaughter Gets Lawyer from Karen Read Case

Officer Nicholas O'Malley faces charges for fatal shooting of carjack suspect Stephenson King.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 2:54pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of a police badge or handcuffs lit by a harsh, direct camera flash against a pitch-black background, creating a stark, gritty, investigative aesthetic.The harsh flash of a police investigation illuminates the tools of law enforcement, as tensions rise over the use of force and the line between protecting the public and protecting the accused.Boston Today

Karen Read's lawyer, David Yannetti, will represent Boston police officer Nicholas O'Malley, who was charged with manslaughter for a fatal on-duty shooting of a carjack suspect. Yannetti described O'Malley as 'a good man who finds himself falsely accused' and said he will 'zealously fight' the charges brought by the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office.

Why it matters

This case highlights the ongoing tensions between law enforcement and prosecutors over use of force incidents, with the officer's lawyer arguing he was defending his partner while prosecutors say body camera footage shows the partner was more at risk of being hit by a bullet than the suspect in the stolen vehicle.

The details

Officer O'Malley fatally shot Stephenson King, a carjack suspect with a history of violence and felonies, after King backed his car into a police cruiser during the encounter. O'Malley said he feared for his partner's life, but prosecutors allege the partner was more in danger of being hit by a bullet than King based on the body camera footage.

  • Officer O'Malley was charged by the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office last month, eight days after the fatal shooting.
  • Karen Read was acquitted of second-degree murder last summer for hitting and killing her boyfriend, a Boston Police Officer, with her car during a blizzard in 2022.

The players

David Yannetti

Karen Read's lawyer who will represent Officer Nicholas O'Malley, describing him as 'a good man who finds himself falsely accused' and vowing to 'zealously fight' the manslaughter charges.

Officer Nicholas O'Malley

A Boston police officer charged with manslaughter for the fatal on-duty shooting of carjack suspect Stephenson King, which he claims was in defense of his partner.

Stephenson King

The carjack suspect with a history of violence and felonies who was fatally shot by Officer O'Malley after backing his car into a police cruiser during the encounter.

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What they’re saying

“He performed his sworn duty and defended his fellow officers when confronted by a dangerous criminal with an established history of violence and felonies.”

— David Yannetti, Karen Read's lawyer

“We will not rest until Officer O'Malley is rightfully acquitted.”

— David Yannetti, Karen Read's lawyer

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Officer O'Malley out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing debate over use of force by police and the tensions between law enforcement and prosecutors, with the officer's lawyer arguing he was defending his partner while prosecutors say the body camera footage shows the partner was more at risk.