Nicholas Gianquitti convicted of second-degree murder
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Gianquitti Convicted Of Murder
Nicholas Gianquitti is found guilty of second-degree murder in the killing of a neighbor.
Nicholas Gianquitti testified in his own defense during the trial.
Published: April 1, 2009
Updated: April 1, 2009
PROVIDENCE—A former Providence police officer was convicted of second-degree murder Wednesday in the fatal shooting of his neighbor in Cranston.
Nicholas Gianquitti never denied he shot James Pagano, a Cranston firefighter, after a May 2008 argument turned violent.
Gianquitti was also convicted of a gun charge. Jurors reached their verdict during the second day of deliberations in Providence Superior Court.
“It’s a very huge sense of relief, said Adriana Pagano, the victim’s widow. “It doesn’t bring my husband back, but justice was served. Now my children will feel safe in our home knowing that he won’t be able to come back there.“
Pagano was killed after he confronted Gianquitti for cursing at his children during a birthday party. Gianquitti had chastised the children when a stray tennis ball struck his wife’s parked car.
Gianquitti testified that he pulled the trigger in self-defense after Pagano came to his door and punched him in the face.
“Mr. Gianquitti is devastated by this verdict. His wife and daughter are crushed as well. We felt that we had a strong self defense case in that Mr. Gianquitti was assaulted in his home,“ defense attorney Mark Dana said in a statement e-mailed to NBC 10.
Dana said the defense would wait for the court’s ruling on post-trial motions before deciding whether to appeal.
Gianquitti is being held pending sentencing.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Reader Reactions
I agree w/(Kimber), I know alot of Police Officer’s and they would never bring their weapon out. He was prepared to use it and he did , now he is making the Firefigher’s Family along with his own pay for it.
At least his family can visit and talk to him, the Firefighter’s Family
don’t have that!!! They only have a grave, over something so “ STUPID “ as a ball. If it was not the ball, you can bet it would have been something else.
This world is getting too Gun Crazy to solve all the problem’s and like I said before - he did not have to answer the door, he should have called 911 and told them and from the Police Officer’s I know they said , it does not matter to them who it is, if they are breaking the law - they are there to ENFORCE IT!!
It is just so sad, and like Kimber , if it was going to be a fight - whatever happened to fist-fights.
Gun’s are out of control, and in my opinion the MINUTE he put it in his hand, he knew he was going to use it.
So Sad for everyone.
I know we have the right to bear arm’s, but why bring did he bring it out with him. Gun Law’s really have to get regulatd alot better than they are.
You can almost compare this to a Gang War, everyone goes nut’s w/that . And we see them on TV, saying it is wrong.
Again in my opinion, bringing the Gun our over something so stupid, proved he intened to scare and was not afraid to use it.
People must remember that “ BOTH FAMILY’S ARE SUFFERING”. But at least one family can talk to their loved one.
No one has the right to take another persons life. And if he feared for his life he did not need to answer the door and he knows that better than anyone being a cop. I have never met a cop that didn’t think he was above the law and thats why he had is gun ready. He took matters into his own hands and now him, his family and the other family are all paying. He made that decision and now he can live with it. The firefighter did not come to the door with a gun. And it wouldn’t have been the first time two guys had a fist fight to settle a score. Again he thought he was above the law and now he knows he is not. Everyone feels awful for the families but they had no control over the hot headed cop!
I WHOLE HEARTEDLY AGREE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
POOR GUY POOR FAMILY
MANSLAUGHER
I am of the thought that Murder 2 was a wrong verdict. Perhaps manslaughter, but not Murder 2. Too severe. The “victim” entered his home and committed assault and battery. Had that happened in my home to a member of my family, you had better believe we would have defended ourselved with deadly force. When he fell down the basement stairs, he could have broken his neck and the “victim” would be on trial not the defendant. It was a very fast series of events that could have gone either way. There is another case in the courts now where an off-duty police officer was punched once and sustained serious brain injuries. This could have been the case here, too, but for circumstance. This was a mistrial of justice in my opinion. There but for the grace of God go I.
omg jacklyynn, thats just wrong . u didnt see the case you did not see his reaction at all.
Justice has been served!!!!!! AMEN!
No one should comment on the guys state of mind at the time of the killing no one unless you are in his shoes - don’t miss the point both families have been destroyed Gianquitti (however u spell it) is now dead inside also - if you saw him he clearly is devastated also, I am sure he reacted he should have never had a gun noone should but the cops (sometimes they shouldn’t either) none of us should make judgement in a situation we are not in…I don’t own a gun and wouldn’t but don’t know how I would react if I felt threatened with someone 3 times my size.
Never celebrate the fact 2 families are destroyed.
I am kind of torn between both sides. I can picture this happening and wanting to settle the dispute once and for all. Also, I can see where if someone came over to my house to prove something and then punches me out, he is definately not coming in to have coffee. That would be the last time for him, also.
He planned the murder. He knew exactly what he was doing. He strapped a gun to his ankle, he lured Pagano in. He knew what he had to do to make it look like self-defense. Gianquitti is a LIAR as well as a MURDERER. The community is safer with this criminal behind bars.
Guns are never the answer! Two entire families ruined over a stupid tennis ball and use of a gun. I think he got what he deserved. What a moron!
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