Topline: A preliminary state report says a Meriden officer opened fire after finding a man still beating his father with a baseball bat outside their home.
Published: July 23, 2026 11:34 am ET
Shawn Fletcher
Committed to the craft of journalism and am driven by my desire to inform and inspire.
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Bodycam footage of officers arriving at a Sagamore Road home and finding Robert Jenkins III repeatedly striking a motionless man in the head with a baseball bat (via Office of Inspector General)
MERIDEN, CT — A preliminary state report says a Meriden police officer shot and killed a 38-year-old man after arriving at a Sagamore Road home and finding him repeatedly striking a motionless man in the head with a baseball bat. The man who was being beaten, later identified as 69-year-old Robert Jenkins Jr., died at the scene, and the man shot by police, Robert Jenkins III, died later that night at Hartford Hospital.
According to a preliminary report released Tuesday by the Connecticut Office of Inspector General and reporting from WTNH and CT Insider, Officer Anthony Offiaeli was the first officer to reach the house at about 10 a.m. Sunday after multiple 911 calls reported an active domestic violence incident involving a weapon. The report says Offiaeli found Jenkins III bludgeoning a male who was lying on the front lawn and fired after Jenkins III ignored repeated commands to drop the bat.
Body-worn and dashboard camera footage released with the report shows Offiaeli moving toward Jenkins III with his handgun drawn while shouting orders to stop. The report says the officer told him four times to drop the bat, but Jenkins III kept attacking the victim. CT Insider reported that the footage appears to show Offiaeli begin firing about 14 seconds after getting out of his cruiser and discharge at least 18 rounds, with several striking Jenkins III before he dropped the bat and collapsed.
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner said Jenkins III died from multiple gunshot wounds to the torso and Jenkins Jr. died from blunt force head injuries. Both deaths were ruled homicides. Connecticut State Police are investigating the fatal beating, while the Office of Inspector General is separately reviewing whether the police shooting was justified.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
If you are experiencing domestic abuse, you are not alone. Help is available. Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233 or text "START" to 88788 to connect with trained advocates 24/7. Support is free, confidential, and available in over 200 languages. You can also visit thehotline.org for more information and resources.
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Preliminary Report Names Man Killed by Meriden Officer During Fatal Baseball Bat Attack
A preliminary state report says a Meriden officer opened fire after finding a man still beating his father with a baseball bat outside their home.
By Shawn Fletcher
Published: July 23, 2026 11:34 am ET
Bodycam footage of officers arriving at a Sagamore Road home and finding Robert Jenkins III repeatedly striking a motionless man in the head with a baseball bat (via Office of Inspector General)
MERIDEN, CT — A preliminary state report says a Meriden police officer shot and killed a 38-year-old man after arriving at a Sagamore Road home and finding him repeatedly striking a motionless man in the head with a baseball bat. The man who was being beaten, later identified as 69-year-old Robert Jenkins Jr., died at the scene, and the man shot by police, Robert Jenkins III, died later that night at Hartford Hospital.
According to a preliminary report released Tuesday by the Connecticut Office of Inspector General and reporting from WTNH and CT Insider, Officer Anthony Offiaeli was the first officer to reach the house at about 10 a.m. Sunday after multiple 911 calls reported an active domestic violence incident involving a weapon. The report says Offiaeli found Jenkins III bludgeoning a male who was lying on the front lawn and fired after Jenkins III ignored repeated commands to drop the bat.
Body-worn and dashboard camera footage released with the report shows Offiaeli moving toward Jenkins III with his handgun drawn while shouting orders to stop. The report says the officer told him four times to drop the bat, but Jenkins III kept attacking the victim. CT Insider reported that the footage appears to show Offiaeli begin firing about 14 seconds after getting out of his cruiser and discharge at least 18 rounds, with several striking Jenkins III before he dropped the bat and collapsed.
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner said Jenkins III died from multiple gunshot wounds to the torso and Jenkins Jr. died from blunt force head injuries. Both deaths were ruled homicides. Connecticut State Police are investigating the fatal beating, while the Office of Inspector General is separately reviewing whether the police shooting was justified.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
If you are experiencing domestic abuse, you are not alone. Help is available. Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233 or text "START" to 88788 to connect with trained advocates 24/7. Support is free, confidential, and available in over 200 languages. You can also visit thehotline.org for more information and resources.
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Preliminary Report Names Man Killed by Meriden Officer During Fatal Baseball Bat Attack
A preliminary state report says a Meriden officer opened fire after finding a man still beating his father with a baseball bat outside their home.
By Shawn Fletcher
Published: July 23, 2026 11:34 am ET
Bodycam footage of officers arriving at a Sagamore Road home and finding Robert Jenkins III repeatedly striking a motionless man in the head with a baseball bat (via Office of Inspector General)
MERIDEN, CT — A preliminary state report says a Meriden police officer shot and killed a 38-year-old man after arriving at a Sagamore Road home and finding him repeatedly striking a motionless man in the head with a baseball bat. The man who was being beaten, later identified as 69-year-old Robert Jenkins Jr., died at the scene, and the man shot by police, Robert Jenkins III, died later that night at Hartford Hospital.
According to a preliminary report released Tuesday by the Connecticut Office of Inspector General and reporting from WTNH and CT Insider, Officer Anthony Offiaeli was the first officer to reach the house at about 10 a.m. Sunday after multiple 911 calls reported an active domestic violence incident involving a weapon. The report says Offiaeli found Jenkins III bludgeoning a male who was lying on the front lawn and fired after Jenkins III ignored repeated commands to drop the bat.
Body-worn and dashboard camera footage released with the report shows Offiaeli moving toward Jenkins III with his handgun drawn while shouting orders to stop. The report says the officer told him four times to drop the bat, but Jenkins III kept attacking the victim. CT Insider reported that the footage appears to show Offiaeli begin firing about 14 seconds after getting out of his cruiser and discharge at least 18 rounds, with several striking Jenkins III before he dropped the bat and collapsed.
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner said Jenkins III died from multiple gunshot wounds to the torso and Jenkins Jr. died from blunt force head injuries. Both deaths were ruled homicides. Connecticut State Police are investigating the fatal beating, while the Office of Inspector General is separately reviewing whether the police shooting was justified.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
If you are experiencing domestic abuse, you are not alone. Help is available. Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233 or text "START" to 88788 to connect with trained advocates 24/7. Support is free, confidential, and available in over 200 languages. You can also visit thehotline.org for more information and resources.
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