A Connecticut man fatally shot a masked teenager during a late-night burglary attempt outside a neighbor’s house and later discovered it was his son, the Associated Press reports.
Fifteen-year-old Tyler Giuliano was shot around 1 am Thursday in New Fairfield, a town just along the New York line.
Alexis Scocozza was home alone and believed someone was breaking into her house. She called her brother, Jeffrey Giuliano, who lived next door. He grabbed his gun and went outside, confronting someone wearing a black ski mask and black clothing. He then shot the person when he saw a shiny weapon in his hand.
Police officers arrived to find Tyler Giuliano lying in the driveway. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
State police spokesman Lt. J. Paul Vance said, “All in all it’s a tragedy.” He also said investigators were unsure if the neighbor called Giuliano or the police first.
Jeffrey Giuliano is a fifth-grade teacher in New Fairfield, and his son was a student at New Fairfield High School.
Superintendent of Schools Alicia Roy emailed parents about the shooting. “Our district has experienced a tragedy that has affected us deeply,” Roy wrote. She added that students weren’t informed of the shooting because all the details weren’t clear.
One of Giuliano’s students said he was “one of the best teachers I ever had.”
An unnamed New Fairfield resident said, “The fact that it was a father and son involved in the shooting and the way that it all happened, I think people quite frankly are devastated. This is a teacher who is very loved.”
Connecticut police say it will take about a week for them to finish their investigation. No charges have been filed against Jeffrey Giuliano as the shooting was done in self-defense.
