A father in Connecticut mistakenly shot his 15-year-old son outside a neighbor’s house during what appeared to be an attempted burglary, police said.
Jeffrey Giuliano, of New Fairfield, shot his adopted son Tyler at about 1 a.m. Thursday. A woman who was alone in a neighbor’s house believed someone was breaking in and called Giuliano, who lives next door. Police said he armed himself with a handgun and went outside to investigate.
Giuliano encountered a person clad in black clothing and a black ski mask with a “shiny object” in his hand. The local elementary school teacher then fired his gun, killing the intruder, who was later identified as Tyler Giuliano.
State police said it will likely be a week before they’re finished an investigation into the fatal shooting. Spokesman Lt. J. Paul Vance said authorities are trying to determine if the gun used was registered. It’s also unclear whether the father or police were notified of the break-in first.
Grant Schoepp, 17, who lives nearby, said his parents heard the gunshots. His father, Bill Schoepp, who is close to the family, was too upset to talk.
"It's very close to home," he told CTNow.com. "I have nothing to say."
Superintendent of Schools Alicia Roy told parents about the incident in an email, the website reported.
"Our district has experienced a tragedy that has affected us deeply," she wrote, adding that students weren't told of the killing because all the facts weren't clear.
No charges have been filed. An autopsy on the boy is planned.
Joe Janse, a former student of Giuliano’s, said he was shocked by the tragedy.
"I can't believe something like this would happen in such a small town, to such a great family," he told CTNow.com.
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