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NYC police officer killed; 'Sopranos' actor ID'd as a suspect
CBS2 Chicago ^

Posted on 12/10/2005 11:40:46 AM PST by KeyLargo

NYC police officer killed; 'Sopranos' actor ID'd as a suspect AP

December 10, 2005 New York - An off-duty police officer was killed Saturday in a gunfight with two burglars outside his home, and authorities said an actor from "The Sopranos" was a suspect. Daniel Enchautegui, 28, a three-year veteran, was pronounced dead at a hospital following the 5:15 a.m. shooting, said Police Commissioner Ray Kelly.

He was the second officer to die in the line of duty in two weeks.

"This is a loss to the department and the city," said Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who joined Kelly at the hospital. "We now have another life to mourn, taken from us for no sensible reason."

The officer had returned to his Bronx home after finishing a late shift when he heard breaking glass in an unoccupied house next door, Kelly said. The officer first called his landlord, then called 911 to report a possible burglary.

The officer grabbed his off-duty weapon and went outside to investigate. His landlord heard Enchautegui shout, "Police! Don't move!", followed by the sound of gunfire, Kelly said.

The officer was struck once in the chest with a bullet from a .357-caliber revolver. Before collapsing in the driveway of the home, he returned fire and struck both of the suspects -- one was hit twice, the other four times.

One of the suspects was identified by police as Lillo Brancato Jr., an actor who also appeared in several episodes of "The Sopranos" as Matt Bevilacqua, a mob wannabe who eventually was murdered. He made his debut in the Robert De Niro-directed film "A Bronx Tale" back in 1993.

Brancato was arrested in June for criminal possession of a controlled substance.

A police car on routine patrol arrested Brancato as he was getting into a car, police said. The second suspect, Steven Armento, was arrested as he ran from the scene. Police identified Armento as the gunman.

Both men were taken into custody without incident and were in serious condition, Kelly said.

Although police were initially using dogs and a helicopter to search for other suspects, Kelly said it appeared only the two wounded men were involved. Subway trains were stopped for several hours as the search continued.

Another officer was shot on Nov. 28 during a car chase in Brooklyn and killed by a bullet that missed his protective vest.

A suspect in that shooting was arrested and charged with first-degree murder and attempted murder in a separate shooting that wounded another officer earlier in November.

On Tuesday, two state troopers were wounded and a drug suspect was killed when shots were fired during a raid in the Bronx.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; News/Current Events; US: New York
KEYWORDS: banglist; brancato; leo; nyc; officerdown; policeofficershot; sopranos
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Photo of actor:

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.spietati.it/archivio/images/foto-2001-2002/foto-2001-2002-n/nostro-natale1.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.spietati.it/archivio/recensioni/rece-2001-2002/rece-2001-2002-n/nostro_natale.htm&h=170&w=260&sz=11&tbnid=03UQ3dg9wPkJ:&tbnh=69&tbnw=107&hl=en&start=7&prev=/images%3Fq%3DLillo%2BBrancato%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26sa%3DN

1 posted on 12/10/2005 11:40:47 AM PST by KeyLargo
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To: KeyLargo

He's the one on the right.

2 posted on 12/10/2005 11:44:52 AM PST by Howlin
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To: KeyLargo

Charismatic young player who was cast as Robert De Niro's son in "A Bronx Tale" (1993) after being spotted by casting agents at New York's Jones Beach. Bearing more than a passing resemblance to his movie dad, Brancato won the role in part because of his uncanny recreations of great De Niro moments in Scorsese films and his own natural ease in front of the camera. He proceeded directly to Penny Marshall's light comedy "Renaissance Man" (1994) and the thriller "Crimson Tide" (1995).

* Also Credited As:
Lillo Brancato Jr
* Born:
in Bogota, Colombia
* Job Titles:
Actor, Retail salesman

Family

* Father: Lillo Brancato. adoptive father
* Mother: Domenica Brancato. adoptive mother
* : has a younger brother

Milestones

* 1992 Spotted at Jones Beach by casting agents (date approximate)
* 1993 Professional acting debut, "A Bronx Tale"
* 1994 Co-starred in the comedy feature "Renaissance Man"
* 1995 Cast as Russell Vossler in "Crimson Tide"
* 1998 Portrayed a worker in the action feature "Enemy Of The State"
* 2000 Cast in the short-lived CBS television series "Falcone"
* 2002 Co-starred as the husband to Drea De Matteo's character in the feature "R Xmas"
* Born in Colombia and adopted by parents who lived in New York

http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/contributor/1804456877/bio


3 posted on 12/10/2005 11:46:14 AM PST by KeyLargo
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To: Howlin

sure about that??


4 posted on 12/10/2005 11:46:15 AM PST by God luvs America (When the silent majority speaks the earth trembles!)
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To: Howlin

The link to story should read ABC7 Chicago instead of CBS2 Chicago.


5 posted on 12/10/2005 11:47:44 AM PST by KeyLargo
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To: KeyLargo

He was only in like 3 or 4 episodes in the first season.


6 posted on 12/10/2005 11:49:23 AM PST by conservativegamer
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To: KeyLargo

This almost sounds like a joke.

Wow! They use authentic hoods in the Sopranos. I'm impressed. Maybe they can have the scumball come back to life in the series and we can eventually see the trial and watch him fry.


7 posted on 12/10/2005 11:49:25 AM PST by Right Wing Assault ("..this administration is planning a 'Right Wing Assault' on values and ideals.." - John Kerry)
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To: God luvs America

8 posted on 12/10/2005 11:49:58 AM PST by Zuben Elgenubi
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To: KeyLargo

If it's proven they killed the cop, they should get the death penalty. But fuged'boudit because NY shot down the death penalty. I doubt if they even get life as the Bronx DA is one of the most liberal in the country.


9 posted on 12/10/2005 11:52:23 AM PST by KenmcG414 (wHAT'ST)
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To: KeyLargo

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newyork/ny-bc-ny--brancatoprofile1210dec10,0,4494559.story?coll=ny-region-apnewyork


10 posted on 12/10/2005 11:55:48 AM PST by chet_in_ny
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To: God luvs America

Yeah. I looked to be sure. :-)


11 posted on 12/10/2005 11:56:47 AM PST by Howlin
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To: KeyLargo

FYI, the shooting occurred in the Pelham Bay section of the Bronx. I hate when generic news reports cite "the Bronx" as a location. The Bronx has many many neighborhoods.


12 posted on 12/10/2005 11:58:07 AM PST by chet_in_ny
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To: conservativegamer

No, it was season 2. He was sucking up to the Michael Imperioli character, Chris, then went on to try and get in good with Richie Aprile by shooting Michael Imperioli's character.


13 posted on 12/10/2005 11:58:48 AM PST by misterrob
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To: KeyLargo

I know this kid. He is from my hood and works out in the same gym as me. A cop friend of mine also told me that this kid was a drug addict and street hustler.

My impession of him is that he is a punk. Most of the people in my hood don't like him.


14 posted on 12/10/2005 12:00:37 PM PST by chris1
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To: KeyLargo

Ba-Da-Bing ~ Bump!


15 posted on 12/10/2005 12:01:55 PM PST by blackie (Be Well~Be Armed~Be Safe~Molon Labe!)
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To: KeyLargo
Daniel Enchautegui

Probably the only NYPD officer of Basque extraction.

Hang the perps.

16 posted on 12/10/2005 12:02:10 PM PST by Mike Darancette (Mesocons for Rice '08)
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To: chet_in_ny

Pelham Bay is not what is used to be.

This kid was bound for this. He is a dope addict and punk. I know this idiot from my gym and hood. He is a small street punk who I wanted to KO many times.


17 posted on 12/10/2005 12:02:10 PM PST by chris1
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To: misterrob

I remember him now!!


18 posted on 12/10/2005 12:03:56 PM PST by WV Mountain Mama (I have a drink at night for my heart. Yeah, my heart, that's it.)
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To: Right Wing Assault

Paulie was in the slammer too. I think he had it written into his contract that his character would never be a snitch.


19 posted on 12/10/2005 12:05:15 PM PST by WV Mountain Mama (I have a drink at night for my heart. Yeah, my heart, that's it.)
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To: chris1

Hey where are you guys when we need to "persuade" some professors at NYU and Columbia????


20 posted on 12/10/2005 12:07:41 PM PST by BillyBonebrake
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