Middlesex DA’s Office has a new video for officers in SWAT training. Look who’s in it

FRAMINGHAM — On January 5, 2011 Eurie Stamps Sr. was shot and killed by a Framingham Police SWAT team member during a botched raid on his Fountain Street home.

He was 68 years old.

Almost 14 years later, Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryanin partnership with the Stamps family, has released a video featuring Stamps’ grandson, Aaron Wilkins, that will be shown to all Middlesex County police officers undergoing SWAT training.

A spokeswoman for the District Attorney’s Office told the Daily News that Ryan was not immediately available for comment. However, the office did release a statement in which Ryan thanked the Stamps family for their help with the video.

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“As district attorney, I am committed to making meaningful changes that increase transparency and accountability regarding incidents involving officer use of force,” Ryan said in the statement. “I am grateful to have the tremendous support of the Stamps family in this case. Throughout this process, they have been generous with their time and open and candid about their personal stories. This work, which was both painful and detailed, reflects our shared desire to create a small but important element of progress from a tragic situation. Just as importantly, I wanted to give the Stamps family the opportunity to honor their beloved father and grandfather.”

Aaron Wilkins speaks about the impact of his grandfather’s death

In the video, Wilkins talks about the impact of his grandfather’s death and said it was important for the family to work on the video and be able to talk to officers about what happened.

“This means a lot to me and the family,” Wilkins, who could not be reached for comment, said in the nearly three-minute video. “One thing that is forever memorable: the house in which my grandfather died, probably months before it actually happened, he told me he wanted to spend the rest of his life here. The fact that I lost my grandfather in the house where he said that he would spend the rest of his life, or that he would want to, certainly struck a chord with me and stayed with me forever, even to this day.

In the 2011 incident, Stamps was at home at 26 Fountain St. when police executed a search warrant. Stamps’ stepson, Joseph Bushfan, and a friend were the targets of an arrest warrant that was part of a drug investigation.

Bushfan was arrested outside the house. But even though surveillance at the home showed the second suspect was not present, the SWAT team kicked in the door and stormed inside.

During the raid, Stamps was ordered to lie on the ground. Framingham Police Officer Paul Duncan, a member of the SWAT team, was assigned to keep an eye on Stamps. Duncan tripped over something and fired his gun, shooting and killing Stamps.

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Than-District Attorney Gerry Leone investigated the shooting and ruled it an accident. The family later sued the then-city of Framingham received $3.75 million. The Framingham Police Department has since disbanded the SWAT team.

In the video, Wilkins emphasized that the family supports police officers, but asked officers to put themselves in the shoes of those they face during a SWAT incident.

“It’s important to know the impact,” Wilkins said. “If there was just one word of advice, or something I could say to the officers, really try to put yourself in someone else’s shoes. That’s the hardest thing you can do. My grandfather’s life was lost because of one person’s decision.”

Norman Miller can be reached at 508-626-3823 or [email protected]. For up-to-date public safety news, follow him at X @Norman_MillerMW or on Facebook at facebook.com/NormanMillerCrime.

This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: Eurie Stamps’ grandson in new video for officers in SWAT training