Friends Describe Man Shot By Police In Newton As 'Gentle Giant'

NEWTON, MA — Michael Conlon, the 28-year-old Newton man who was fatally shot Tuesday by police, was described by those who knew him as a "gentle giant" who had recently stopped taking the medication he used to treat his mental illness.

"He was not a robber or a criminal," said Colleen Powell, whose daughter was close with Conlon before she died in 2017.

Powell said she and Conlon visited her daughter Caitlin's grave this summer, and he brought a dozen roses. She and Conlon frequently exchanged positive messages on social media, she said.

"He was so kind," Powell said. "He struck [me] as a real sweet kind soul who wanted nothing more than a 'normal' life, but his mental illness was getting him down."

Read more: 2 Newton Officers Fatally Shot Man With Knife: Middlesex DA

On Tuesday just before 1:45 p.m., the owner of the Newton Highlands candy store Indulge! called 911. On the call, the dispatcher asked the owner what the address is, but rather than answer, the owner can be heard talking to Conlon.

"Can you please put the knife away?" she can be heard saying. "I know you're a nice kid," she said as he asked her to go upstairs with him to speak with his neighbor. "I can't leave my store," she said and encouraged him to leave. Shortly after, she told the 911 dispatcher that police arrived and Conlon had gone upstairs toward his apartment, relief apparent in her voice.

Police followed him upstairs and tried talking with him, according to Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan. She said Conlon would not to drop the knife police found him with and instead grabbed a fire extinguisher.

"Mr. Conlon allegedly advanced on officers while still holding the knife in a threatening manner," prompting two Newton police officers to shoot him, Ryan said.

Although a mental health clinician was called to the scene, that person did not interact with Conlon because officials deemed it too dangerous. But friends say that's not how they remember him.

"He was a gentle giant," said Powell.

He maintained friendships with the families of friends who had died young. They described him as compassionate and eager to help others and proud of his own family and siblings.

Powell, who is a social worker and has worked with mentally ill adults for years, said he had lost both his best friend and then his girlfriend, and would talk to her about both of them.

"He always checked in with me and said he prayed for me and my daughter every night," she said.

Powell said he had recently stopped taking the medication to treat his mental illness and was ranting a lot on Facebook, but making valid points about mental health treatment.

"[He was] not a criminal or a robber," she said. "It is so sad to see him portrayed as such."

Read more: Man Shot By Newton Police Identified, 911 Call Released

The shooting shocked residents in Newton, where community members have been pushing for police reform, and changing how officers respond to calls from people who might be experiencing a mental health crisis.

A group of activists called Defund NPD held a rally next to Newton police headquarters Wednesday night, calling for policing changes. More than a hundred protesters, including dozens of counterprotesters, gathered. Tensions were high, and some protesters on both sides exchanged insults.

While some were calling for sweeping change, other protesters said they showed up to highlight that more needs to be done to protect and help people diagnosed with mental illness and send a message that regardless of what happened, no one deserved to die.

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