WTNH News Channel 8 / News / 1999

	Family of man killed by police battled drug abuse (Meriden-WTNH) _ The father of a man shot and killed by police in Meriden Monday says his son would never have hurt anyone. Police say Antonio Antolini was shot and killed after lunging at officers with a knife. Family members talked about Antolini's battle to beat a drug addiction. News Channel 8's Judy Chong reports. The family tells a tale of a man who had potential. But that promise was destroyed by a life-long struggle with drugs. Antonio Antolini was shot and killed by police yesterday after the Meriden man allegedly lunged at officers with a knife. Rocco Antolini, Father: "He's a good kid kid. Honest to God I swear. He would never have stabbed anybody with that knife. I know my son." Antolini's father and sister believe the 36 year old man was desperate to get help for a drug addiction that, once again, had gained control. "That was his way to get help I guess. He couldn't go in for himself, so he figured he'd let the cops arrest him and they'll bring him in." Just moments before the shooting, Antolini was in a van with his girlfriend. Meriden police were responding to another call when they spotted the van stopped in an intersection with two people inside arguing. Investigators say Antolini became violent when officers approached the van. But family members who talked to Antolini's girlfriend tell a different story. Dawn Willette, Sister: "There was not a domestic dispute that caused the police to pull them over. He went in search of them. He made her pull the car over." The 36 year old man stabbed himself in the leg while in the car -- another sign, the family says, of a despondent man who was losing a struggle with his private demons. Seven to 8 trips throughout Antolini's life to drug rehab could not stop his addiction. However, his family insists the man was not violent, nor was Antolini suicidal. He had his own house painting business and 4 children he loved dearly. "He made good money. He took care of his kids. He always took good care of his kids." Antolini's family tried putting him in the best drug treatment programs in places like Elmcrest, but nothing seemed to work. His family is not certain if the Meriden man was on drugs at the time of the shooting. The four officers involved in the shooting are identified as Patrick Gaynor, Brian Lawlor, Christine Muir, and Robert Nesci. Police did not identify which of the male officers fired the fatal shots. Today's News Page. WTNH Home Page. ©1999 WTNH/WTNH-DT A LIN station.

Family of man killed by police battled drug abuse
(Meriden-WTNH) _ The father of a man shot and killed by police in Meriden Monday says his son would never have hurt anyone. Police say Antonio Antolini was shot and killed after lunging at officers with a knife. Family members talked about Antolini's battle to beat a drug addiction.
News Channel 8's Judy Chong reports.

The family tells a tale of a man who had potential. But that promise was destroyed by a life-long struggle with drugs. Antonio Antolini was shot and killed by police yesterday after the Meriden man allegedly lunged at officers with a knife.

Rocco Antolini, Father: "He's a good kid kid. Honest to God I swear. He would never have stabbed anybody with that knife. I know my son."

Antolini's father and sister believe the 36 year old man was desperate to get help for a drug addiction that, once again, had gained control.

"That was his way to get help I guess. He couldn't go in for himself, so he figured he'd let the cops arrest him and they'll bring him in."

Just moments before the shooting, Antolini was in a van with his girlfriend. Meriden police were responding to another call when they spotted the van stopped in an intersection with two people inside arguing. Investigators say Antolini became violent when officers approached the van. But family members who talked to Antolini's girlfriend tell a different story.

Dawn Willette, Sister: "There was not a domestic dispute that caused the police to pull them over. He went in search of them. He made her pull the car over."

The 36 year old man stabbed himself in the leg while in the car -- another sign, the family says, of a despondent man who was losing a struggle with his private demons. Seven to 8 trips throughout Antolini's life to drug rehab could not stop his addiction.

However, his family insists the man was not violent, nor was Antolini suicidal. He had his own house painting business and 4 children he loved dearly.

"He made good money. He took care of his kids. He always took good care of his kids."

Antolini's family tried putting him in the best drug treatment programs in places like Elmcrest, but nothing seemed to work. His family is not certain if the Meriden man was on drugs at the time of the shooting.

The four officers involved in the shooting are identified as Patrick Gaynor, Brian Lawlor, Christine Muir, and Robert Nesci. Police did not identify which of the male officers fired the fatal shots.

Today's News Page.

WTNH Home Page.