A terrifying incident unfolded in Connecticut when a son unleashed a brutal daylight assault on his father in front of their home, wielding a baseball bat with deadly intent. This chilling episode, captured on police bodycam footage, ended when officers intervened, ultimately resulting in the son’s death.
The tragic event involved Robert Jenkins III, aged 38, who was caught in a vicious act, repeatedly hitting his 69-year-old father, Robert Jenkins Jr., on their Meriden lawn. This shocking scene unfolded on a Sunday morning, as outlined by details in the Connecticut Insider.
Anthony Offiaeli, the first officer on the scene, confronted Jenkins with a stern warning to drop the bat. Despite being commanded to “put the f–king bat down,” Jenkins ignored the directive, prompting Officer Offiaeli to fire his weapon, according to the police bodycam recording.
Connecticut Inspector General Eliot Prescott provided further insights in a preliminary report, detailing how Jenkins III was continuously battering a motionless figure lying on the lawn. Prescott described Jenkins’ persistent assault, which culminated in his refusal to heed multiple orders to stand down.
Officer Offiaeli’s instructions were clear as he told Jenkins to abandon the weapon four times. However, Jenkins continued his relentless attack, refusing to comply and focusing his strikes on the victim’s head, despite the officer’s repeated commands.
“Officer Offiaeli then discharged his service firearm numerous times at Jenkins III. Several rounds struck Jenkins III, who then dropped the bat and fell to the ground.”
Offiaeli fired at least 18 rounds at Jenkins III.
Jenkins III died at 11:30 p.m. that night as a result of “multiple gunshot wounds of the torso” and his death was ruled a homicide.
Meanwhile, his father died as a result of “blunt force head injuries” and the manner of his death was also ruled a homicide.
It’s not clear if Offiaeli has been put on administrative leave. In Connecticut, it’s common for cops involved in fatal shootings to be put on leave pending the investigation.
Neighbors were left stunned over the attack in the residential town, situated between New Haven and Hartford.
“I don’t know every minute of every day, but when they were in public they were respectful; they were very social,” neighbor Raymond Prue told WTNH.
Kirsten Anderson, who also lives in the neighborhood, claimed Jenkins III previously had violent outbursts.
“He needed help,” she told WFSB.
“He had to have cracked to continue beating when the police were telling him to stop. That’s why police had to shoot.”