April 18, 2023 The Hampden district attorney concluded that Massachusetts State Police troopers were justified in fatally shooting a disgruntled patron who opened fire outside MGM Springfield casino.
By Stephanie Barry Source masslive.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
William Tisdol died of a single bullet wound to the chest after firing five shots at local and state police on Feb. 25 outside MGM Springfield, according to an investigation by the Hampden District Attorney’s office.
It all began with an argument at a blackjack table in the middle of the night, video from the downtown casino showed. Hampden District Attorney Anthony D. Gulluni on Friday presented the fruits of a weeks-long investigation into Tisdol’s death, including jarring footage from body-worn police cameras.
Gulluni concluded the shooting was justified and criminal charges against the troopers who shot at Tisdol are not warranted.
“I have an obligation that, in this instance, requires me and my team, to investigate and evaluate the circumstances of a death,” Gulluni said. “I must do so in an objective, transparent and clinical fashion. This duty is highly significant to many people, including a family that lost a loved one, the law enforcement officers involved, and the community at large.”
Tisdol, of Hartford, Connecticut, got into an argument with another MGM patron around 2 a.m., surveillance video showed. The other man asked Tisdol to sit out on a hand, angering Tisdol. He left the table and returned minutes later, fueling the argument and telling the other man he had a gun and intended to shoot him.
“Meet me in the garage,” Tisdol told the man, who informed casino security and state troopers about the threat, prompting troopers and a Springfield police officer to follow Tisdol outside. Tisdol had one hand stuffed in his pocket and walked, then ran from police who were ordering him to stop.
Springfield Police Officer Matthew Truex tackled Tisdol but then tripped over a curb. Tisdol righted himself and continued to run.
You’re going to get tased!” Trooper Thomas Cusack shouted. Tisdol cast a look over his shoulder in response.
“Mr. Tisdol then turned around with a firearm in his right hand and fired several shots directly at Trooper Cusack,” Gulluni said.
Trooper Gregory Santos returned fire. Tisdol continued to fire back, the video shows. The footage also shows a muzzle flash from Tisdol’s gun.
Santos fired 17 shots, Gulluni said, including the one that killed Tisdol.
“Careful review of the city of Springfield cameras and body worn camera conclusively show that Mr. Tisdol quickly turns to Trooper Cusack and fires at him as he pointed his taser at him and prior to Trooper Santos firing his weapon,” Gulluni said.
Tisdol ducked around a corner and briefly disappeared from view. Police followed him and found him lying in some shrubbery on Main Street. They bellowed at him to show his hands and drop the gun.
“I’m dead. Ya’ll got me.” Tisdol said, adding that he doesn’t have the gun anymore.
“I’m dying,” he said moments later.
Cusack called for a medical bag, while other officers recovered a 9 mm Taurus PT111 semi-automatic pistol on the sidewalk, with eight rounds left in the gun.
“Five, 9mm shell casings were found on the sidewalk of Main Street. Massachusetts State Police ballisticians determined that they were fired from Mr. Tisdol’s Taurus firearm,” Gulluni said.
Tisdol was taken by ambulance to Baystate Medical Center, where he died just after 3 a.m., Gulluni said.
Both troopers were taken off the streets while the investigation was pending but will return to duty, he said.
A spokesman for the Massachusetts State Police issued a statement following Gulluni’s announcement.
“No troopers go to work each day wanting to have to use lethal force, but nonetheless carry with them the knowledge that they may be required to do so in defense of their own lives, and the lives of the citizens they serve,” the statement read, in part.
“We appreciate the deliberate, thorough, and thoughtful investigation and review by District Attorney Gulluni’s Office,” State Police Colonel John Mawn Jr. added. “We commend the professionalism and heroism of our troopers and recognize the profound personal impact associated with the discharge of an officer’s firearm in the line of duty. We are grateful for their courage and comforted that their quick response prevented further loss of life.”