A Connecticut police officer can be heard repeatedly ordering a man to drop a baseball bat moments before firing his weapon, as the man kept striking a motionless victim in the head, according to newly released body camera video.
The Connecticut Office of Inspector General released the footage this week from the July 19 incident in Meriden, where two men died. Among them was 38-year-old Robert Lee Jenkins III, who investigators said was shot by a responding officer while carrying out the attack.
In a preliminary report, the inspector general’s office said Meriden Officer Anthony Offiaeli arrived at a Sagamore Road home shortly after 10 a.m. and saw Jenkins “bludgeoning” a man who was lying motionless on the front lawn with a baseball bat.
“Put the f—ing bat down!” Offiaeli shouted several times while aiming his firearm at Jenkins, the body camera footage shows.
Body camera video released by the Connecticut Office of Inspector General shows Meriden Officer Anthony Offiaeli confronting Robert Lee Jenkins, who investigators say repeatedly hit another man with a baseball bat before the officer opened fire. (Connecticut Office of Inspector General)
Offiaeli also called for backup over the radio, telling other responding officers to “step it up.”
As the officer moved closer, Jenkins brought the bat down four more times, appearing to hit the victim on the ground with each swing.
Offiaeli fired multiple shots, but Jenkins continued swinging the bat at the victim. The officer then fired additional rounds, after which Jenkins began to slow, though he kept swinging until he ultimately collapsed.
Body camera footage released by the Connecticut Office of Inspector General shows Meriden Officer Anthony Offiaeli confronting Robert Lee Jenkins as investigators say Jenkins repeatedly struck another man with a baseball bat before the officer opened fire. (Connecticut Office of Inspector General)
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The inspector general’s preliminary report states Offiaeli ordered Jenkins to drop the baseball bat four times before opening fire after Jenkins continued striking the victim.
Jenkins received medical treatment at the scene before being taken to Hartford Hospital, where he died at 11:30 p.m., investigators said.
The victim who was attacked with the baseball bat was pronounced dead at the scene. His identity has not been released because Connecticut law prohibits disclosing the identity of victims in family violence cases.
An autopsy determined Jenkins died from multiple gunshot wounds to the torso, and the manner of death was ruled a homicide, according to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.
The victim’s cause of death was determined to be blunt force head injuries, and the manner of death was also ruled a homicide. Toxicology results and Jenkins’ death certificate were still pending as of Tuesday.
A police cruiser’s emergency lights are seen in this undated file photo. Newly released body camera footage shows a Meriden, Connecticut, police officer fatally shooting a man who investigators said continued attacking another man with a baseball bat despite repeated commands to stop. (Stephen M. Katz/South Florida Sun-Sentinel/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
In an initial statement following the shooting, Meriden Police Chief Roberto Rosado said the incident “reminds us that the dangers of Police work is real” and that there was no ongoing threat to the public.
The Connecticut 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.
