Francis Gigliotti was unarmed and in the middle of a mental health crisis when Haverhill police officers pinned him to the ground outside a local restaurant. Witnesses say he was calling out for help as several officers piled on top of him. Moments later, he was unresponsive. He died at the hospital soon after.

There are no body camera recordings of what happened. The only video evidence comes from bystanders, one of whom described the incident as a “giant pig pile.” His fiancée and friends say he wasn’t a threat — he was scared, overwhelmed, and needed help. Instead, he was fatally restrained.

Seven officers have been placed on paid administrative leave. But that’s not accountability — and it’s not enough.

Francis’s death has shaken the Haverhill community and rippled through Greater Boston. It raises urgent questions about how law enforcement responds to mental health emergencies, why no body cameras were present, and what happens when cries for help are met with overwhelming force instead of care.

We are demanding a full, independent investigation and real transparency — not just for Francis’s family, but for a community that deserves answers. We are calling for immediate investment in non-police crisis response, mandatory body cameras for all Massachusetts officers, and public access to footage in cases where people die in custody.

Francis deserved compassion, not a fatal pile-on. His life mattered. His story can’t end in silence.

Add your name if you believe Massachusetts must act — because justice for Francis means real change now.