Man Who Beat Victim To Death With Baseball Bat Dies After Police Shooting In Meriden: Officials

MERIDEN, CT — The man found beating a person to death with a baseball bat during a domestic violence incident on Sunday died after being shot by a Meriden police officer, officials said in an update.

The officer-involved shooting is being investigated by the Inspector General’s office, while Connecticut State Police are investigating the homicide that is related to the domestic violence incident.

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Connecticut Inspector General Eliot D. Prescott issued a preliminary report Tuesday regarding the use of deadly force by a police officer that resulted in the death of 38-year-old Robert Lee Jenkins III.

Police responded around 10 a.m. on July 19 to Sagamore Road on the report of an active domestic violence incident.

Officer Anthony Offiaeli was the first to arrive at the home and saw Jenkins bludgeoning a man, who was lying motionless on the front lawn, in the head with a baseball bat, according to the report.

“Officer Offiaeli ordered Jenkins III to drop the baseball bat four times but he did not comply and continued to strike the prone male on the head with the bat,” Prescot wrote in the report. “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.”

Jenkins received medical treatment at the scene, was transported to Hartford Hospital, and died as a result of his injuries at 11:30 p.m., according to Prescot. The man assaulted by Jenkins was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

On Monday, the Chief Medical Examiner determined Jenkins III’s cause of death to be “multiple gunshot wounds of the torso” and the manner of death to be “homicide,” according to Prescot.

The medical examiner performed an autopsy on the man assaulted by Jenkins. His cause of death was determined to be “blunt force head injuries” and the manner of death to be “homicide,” according to Prescot.

The Office of Inspector General, Connecticut State Police Central District Major Crime Squad, the Meriden Police Department, and the New Haven Judicial District State’s Attorney’s Office are continuing to investigate the incident.

See also: Victim Beaten To Death With Baseball Bat, Suspect Shot By Police: Meriden PD