Lawyer: Mental health, race, played roll in shooting of two Massachusetts officers

The lawyer for a suspect charged with shooting two Falmouth police officers stated in court Friday that race and mental health were factors.

According to the Cape Cod Times, Brian Kelley, the attorney representing Malik Koval, requested that his client receive a sentence between 5 and 7 1/2 years, as well as five years probation.

Kelley also filed a motion to take the trial out of Barnstable County.

“In this world we live in today we know that there are examples of African Americans being treated in a different way than their white counterparts by police,” Kelley stated.

Koval’s lawyer also stated that his client was diagnosed with bipolar disorder along with paranoia and grandiose thoughts.

Kelley also mentioned that the officer came into his house which would give Koval a self-defense argument.

District Attorney Michael O’Keefe and Falmouth Police Chief Edward Dunne announced in July of 2018 that Falmouth Police were called to an area of Seacoast Shores Blvd for a disturbance in the street. They encountered Koval, who was 21 at the time, breaking bottles in the street. As they tried to engage him, he became agitated and ran into the home at Ashley Drive. Koval produced a gun and began shooting at officers in his home.

Police returned fire in the incident and struck Koval several times.

Officer Don DeMiranda was shot in the chest where the bullet was stopped by a vest. A second round hit him in the shoulder area.

Officer Ryan Moore was struck in the neck area causing a grazing wound. He was treated and released from Falmouth Hospital.

Koval was arraigned in a hospital in Boston and pled not guilty in connection with the shooting of Officers Ryan Moore and Donald DeMiranda and was charged with Assault to Murder (x2), Assault and Battery on a Police Officer (x2), Assault and Battery with a Dangerous Weapon (x2), Carrying a Loaded Firearm without a License, Resisting Arrest, and Disturbing the Peace.