A violent confrontation ends in gunfire
A police officer in Meriden, Connecticut, responded to a domestic disturbance that escalated into a brutal assault on Tuesday afternoon.
Body‑camera footage captured the assailant, later identified as 38‑year‑old Robert Lee Jenkins III, striking his 69‑year‑old father, Robert Jenkins Jr., repeatedly with a baseball bat.
The elder Jenkins was already seriously injured when the officer arrived, and despite attempts to intervene, the attack continued, prompting the officer to discharge his weapon.
Investigators say the officer unleashed nearly 20 rounds before the assailant ceased his assault, a sequence that left both father and son dead from their injuries.
The Office of Inspector General has opened an inquiry to assess whether the use of force was justified under Connecticut statutes, while the Connecticut State Police Central District Major Crime Squad, the Meriden Police Department, and the New Haven Judicial District State’s Attorney’s Office are assisting with the investigation.
The incident has reignited discussions about domestic violence response and the pressures faced by law‑enforcement officers in volatile situations.