Meriden police body cam shows officer shoot man during bat attack

A Connecticut police officer repeatedly ordered a man to drop a baseball bat before opening fire as the suspect continued bludgeoning a motionless man in the head, newly released body camera footage shows.

The footage, released this week by the Connecticut Office of Inspector General, captures the July 19 encounter in Meriden that left two men dead, including 38-year-old Robert Lee Jenkins III, who investigators said was shot by a responding officer while carrying out the attack.

According to the inspector general’s preliminary report, Meriden Officer Anthony Offiaeli arrived at a home on Sagamore Road shortly after 10 a.m. and found Jenkins “bludgeoning” a man lying motionless on the front lawn with a baseball bat.

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“Put the f—ing bat down!” the officer shouted repeatedly while pointing his firearm at Jenkins, body camera footage shows.

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)

He then radioed for backup, urging responding officers to “step it up.”

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As Offiaeli advanced, Jenkins swung the baseball bat downward four times, appearing to strike the victim on the ground with each blow.

The officer fired multiple shots, but Jenkins continued striking the victim with the bat. The officer fired additional rounds before Jenkins began to slow down, though he continued swinging the bat until he eventually collapsed.

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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)

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.

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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.

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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.

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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)

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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.

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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.