What a damned shame. If I'm not mistaken this is the second NY Cop killed within a week, after no deaths throughout the entire year. As for Brancato, his Soprano's character was killed off in this episode. For an added bit of irony, check out the byline below.
Police Officer Killed in Bronx Shootout
By DAVID B. CARUSO
Associated Press WriterNEW YORK (AP) -- A young police officer dying from a bullet to his chest shot two burglars early Saturday, one of them identified as an actor who played a misfit mobster on "The Sopranos."
Officer Daniel Enchautegui, 28, collapsed in the driveway of his Bronx home and died shortly afterward.
The wounded suspects were quickly captured. Investigators identified one as Lillo Brancato Jr., an actor who got his break in the Robert De Niro-directed film "A Bronx Tale" in 1993, and played doomed mob wannabe Matt Bevilacqua during the 1999-2000 season of "The Sopranos."
Brancato, 29, of Yonkers, was also arrested in June for alleged heroin possession.
So sad to hear of another brave officer losing his life. There's way too much of this happening as of late. Burglary in the name of getting drug money I suppose?
Was this actor (now cop killer I presume) the guy who played Meadow's boyfriend the year she went off to college?
Posted by: alleycat | Sunday, December 11, 2005 at 05:51 AM
No, that is Jackie Jr. played by Jason Cerbone.
Brancato plays Christopher's friend in some early episodes.
Posted by: hardyandtiny | Sunday, December 11, 2005 at 02:36 PM
Doe it disturb anyone else that David Caruso wrote this? He plays a cop on CSI: Miami....
Hmmm. Article written by actor who plays a cop who investigates killings about an actor who kills a cop.
Sounds like a plot for a show....
What? Oh, different David Caruso. Sorry for wasting your time.
Posted by: Crazy Politico | Sunday, December 11, 2005 at 05:55 PM
Brancato plays Christopher's friend
In episode 22 he is one of the young wannabes that tries to pull off a hit on Christopher. Paulie and Big Pussy wack him for his trouble.
Posted by: Dan | Sunday, December 11, 2005 at 06:16 PM
More importantly, he was the main character in "A Bronx Tale," which was an overt statement against the sort of mindless violence he seems to have undertaken.
Posted by: TPB, Esq. | Monday, December 12, 2005 at 01:10 AM
It so sad to hear about the drug related stuff he's been up to. I've been a fan of his since 1993. It was quite a huge shock for me and many people I know, to see something like this happen involving Lillo.....It's like a script from one of his movies or something.
Posted by: L.T. | Monday, December 12, 2005 at 09:57 AM
Dan:
Wrong. It was Chris and Tony who whacked out Lilo in that episode.
Furthermore, he did not pull the trigger, and because he was an actor did not make him immune to the pressures of life and the demons that regular people deal with. He is a drug addict. I live in the same neighborhood here in Yonkers. This kid made a bad decision and now will pay for it. But the fact that he acted with the likes of Deniro and Devito have nothing to do with this tragic occurence.
Posted by: MAV | Tuesday, December 13, 2005 at 06:43 PM
WRONG DAN,IT WAS TONY AND PUSSY WHO KILLED HIM.BUT EITHER WAY,WHAT HAPPENED TO THAT OFFICER WAS A TRAGEDY.FOR A POLICE OFFICER TO DIE SO QUICKLY IS A REAL SHAME.IDEALLY,IF YOU ARE GOING TO KILL A COP YOU SHOULD MAKE HIM SUFFER FOR A WHILE.ANY DEAD COP IS A GREAT THING BUT ANY EXTRA PAIN THAT HE CAN BE PUT THROUGH IS A BONUS.SO WE HAVE A DEAD COP AND SOME 3RD RATE GREASE BALL ACTOR IN JAIL.SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD DAY TO ME!
Posted by: MACK IS GOD | Thursday, December 15, 2005 at 11:20 PM
innocent until proven guilty,he didnt pull the trigger.
Posted by: lillo fan | Monday, December 19, 2005 at 01:13 PM
If the dumb police officer didn't shoot his pistol at them then none of this would have happened and that great actor now with his beautiful face will never be on screen again
Posted by: jack | Sunday, January 01, 2006 at 05:51 PM
I just found this guys new website!
http://www.lillobrancatojr.com
Posted by: Joey | Friday, January 20, 2006 at 01:39 AM
Sad to hear a cop get killed? Fuck all the pigs! The majority of them are fucking pricks and are more deviant and criminal than any regular citizen. In Portland Oregon they just fucking kill unarmed people during routine stops. I truly want to see a war on cops are those dead motherfuckers lying in the gutters. The more dead cops the better!!
cop hater
Posted by: bob | Saturday, February 25, 2006 at 02:50 AM
Fuck all you derelicts who hate cops and government and military its all the same thing. Go back to fucking Mexico or iraq or wherever you ungratefull motherfuckers are from. yes some or even most cops are vagrants. Yes actors are human and they love drugs too. Who cares. They police each other. Cops kill degenerates, degenerates kill derelict cops. Some good people get hit in the crossfire. Don't let the cloud of bullshit envelope your minds. Cops are a good thing, believe it or not. I am the same age as that cop and I have been a cop and in the military so fuck you if havent done either. They keep trash like you fucks out of the way of real people like me. Sit on that you fucking losers.
Posted by: FuckCopHaters | Monday, April 24, 2006 at 07:53 PM
FUCK COPOS THERE ALL FAT SHORT PIECES OF SHIT WHO ARE TOO LAZY TO SHUT OFF THERE FUCKIN CARS AND LEAVE THEM RUN FORLIKE 6 HOURS
Posted by: KYO | Sunday, April 01, 2007 at 08:50 PM