Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

PROVIDENCE -- A former policeman pleaded not guilty to murder in the shooting death of his next-door neighbor during a confrontation over a stray tennis ball.

In court today, Nicholas Gianquitti's lawyer entered two pleas of not guilty; one for a murder charge, the other for using a firearm during a violent act. In contrast to Gianquitti's bail hearing, there were no onlookers in court today.

A clean-shaved Gianqutti, dressed in a dark gray suit and light blue shirt, said little in court, giving only his name and address to Judge Robert Krause in Superior Court, Providence.

The police say on May 18, Gianquitti, a Providence policeman for several months in the 1990s, came out of his Cranston house swearing and yelling, after kids in his neighbor's yard threw a ball that hit his car.

Gianqutti's neighbor, James Pagano, a 44-year-old Cranston firefighter, was hosting a birthday party for his young son. When Gianquitti started swearing, neighbors said, Pagano rushed over to confront him.

The confrontation led to a physical fight and then, neighbors say, they heard shots and saw Pagano lying in the street. He was taken to Rhode Island Hospital and later pronounced dead.

Gianquitti, 40, has been held on bail since the shooting. His next scheduled court appearance is a conference with the judge on Sept. 2.

Read the Journal's continuing coverage of the Cranston shooting.

--projo.com staff writer Brandie M. Jefferson, with reports from Journal staff writer Amanda Milkovits

 Tags  Cranston Gianquitti

Comments

kevin said:

Disgusting, not only has this man been milking the system with a bogus disability, he kills a man who actually works for a living. I hope justice is swift and severe. I feel for the wives and children of both men involved, as ultimately all will lose a husband and father over a senseless act by a cowardly man who obviously has some personality disorders. Just think he'll likely be whiling away the rest of his life in the ACI thinking on how he shot a man over a foul ball.

Link | August 8, 2008 10:57 AM
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Cedric E. said:

Agreed - absolutely disgusting and not deserving of the nomer Man. At least for once in his ill served life he should have the dignity to admit that he took an innocent contributing citizen's life in Cold Blood. I find few instances where capital punishment is warrented but this crime begs for justice.

Link | August 8, 2008 10:59 PM
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d.hareld said:

he'a fool for that one. all because some little kids were playin ball and hit his car with of all things a tennis ball, i dont think his car cost more than a human life so i think he should get life for killin that guy and an additional 50yrs for the stupid reason he thought was enough to kill this man

Link | August 8, 2008 10:59 PM
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JD said:

Lets remember that the victim is the one who went over to Gianquitti's house and started the confrontation. The victim pushed his way in and took a swing at Gianquitti. Let the facts of the case be told before we set up the lynching pole.

Link | August 12, 2008 8:20 AM
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