Remember how actor Lillo Brancato (The Sopranos, A Bronx Tale) was involved in the
shooting death of Daniel Enchautegui, the off-duty Bronx police officer who attemped to stop Brancato and a friend
from burglarizing the house next door? Well, now he's sorry. Really, really sorry.
According to a story in the New York Post (registration required), the actor was breaking into the house with Steven Armento, 43, the father of Brancato's ex-girlfriend, after a night of drinking. The men were after a stash of valium in the house, which had belonged to an acquaintance of Brancato's who died in July.
Brancato had broken into the house several times to steal valium from a stash he knew about in the house, but he was unaware on the fateful night, the house had already been cleaned out and the stash was gone. He also claims to have been unaware that Armento had a gun with him.
Brancato says he has a lot of respect for cops and would never intentionally have been involved in killing one. "I love cops. I respect them. I admire them — especially after 9/11. I would never have wanted to take a cop's life — or any life," Brancato says in the post interview. Well, that's good to know. Brancato, who admits to having a drug and alcohol problem dating back to his teens, blames his addictive behavior on being adopted. He also says he's thinking about writing a movie about his life - which he claims to have discussed with actor Chazz Palmenteri - to help other kids avoid getting into drugs.
Six Mad Men characters who are in limbo after the finale
Fact or Fiction: Big Bang, Brothers & Sisters and CSI
The TV Squad Podcast: Linda Purl talks about The Office, we talk spoilers, and more
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
11-17-2007 @ 12:18PM
stephanie said...
look he did something bad actually he did a lot of things, if and when he gets out of jail he wants to make a movie to teach show us what he did wrong and for us not to make the same mistakes that he did! and i don't care what all of you people think i care about what i think ya he is an acholic anddrug attic, but what stars, famous people, or anyone that is known around the world isnt a drug attic or an acholic all of them are basically so your over here saying things about lillo when there is other stars that do the same thing so it is only him!no matter what i still am his fan and i am still going to watch his movies ya i am mad at him but ill get over it eventually he made a big big mistake he apologized he is sorry so what ever i still llike him as a movie star!
Reply
12-29-2005 @ 1:38PM
LC said...
*clears throat* WAHHHHH!!!!
Yet another jailhouse apology. Worth its weight in manure.
Reply
12-29-2005 @ 2:06PM
Emily said...
Yeah, he's sorry.
A sorry piece of crap.
Reply
12-29-2005 @ 3:07PM
Nanci said...
Geez you people are so judgemental. What do you want him to say, "He's NOT sorry!" Boy, you'd all really have a field day with that one wouldn't you. I'm sure he is sorry, he's a drug addict (which IS a disease for you non-believers out there) not a killer. He was part of a unsavory and unfortunate situation (yes his fault)that went horribly awry (not really his fault) I'm not excusing him and he should suffer some consequences and a "fallen officer" is always a tragedy. But a murderer he's NOT!
Reply
12-29-2005 @ 3:07PM
Nanci said...
Geez you people are so judgemental. What do you want him to say, "He's NOT sorry!" Boy, you'd all really have a field day with that one wouldn't you. I'm sure he is sorry, he's a drug addict (which IS a disease for you non-believers out there) not a killer. He was part of a unsavory and unfortunate situation (yes his fault)that went horribly awry (not really his fault) I'm not excusing him and he should suffer some consequences and a "fallen officer" is always a tragedy. But a murderer he's NOT!
Reply
12-29-2005 @ 3:16PM
Nanci said...
Geez you people are so judgemental. What do you want him to say, "He's NOT sorry!" Boy, you'd all really have a field day with that one wouldn't you. I'm sure he is sorry, he's a drug addict (which IS a disease for you non-believers out there) not a killer. He was part of a unsavory and unfortunate situation (yes his fault)that went horribly awry (not really his fault) I'm not excusing him and he should suffer some consequences and a "fallen officer" is always a tragedy. But a murderer he's NOT!
Reply
12-29-2005 @ 3:48PM
Emily said...
Hmmm, do I really want to open this can of worms? Oh, what the hell (putting on asbestos coveralls).
Sorry, don't buy that drug addiction or alcoholism is a disease. I know it is popular to say so, but I also believe that is used to get people into treatment so they don't feel like it is their fault.
Addiction to anything like drugs, booze, gambling or overeating is a character flaw, IMO. We all have them and some are worse than others.
I agree he isn't a murderer. I think technically he is an accomplice to murder since he didn't actually pull the trigger. However, being a drunken junkie doesn't excuse any of his behavior and it is time for him to step up and take responsibility.
Reply
12-29-2005 @ 4:14PM
Nanci said...
Emily, I couldn't disagree with you more about the whole "disease" thing. From your writing you seem to be intelligent and not just spewing hate like others do on these blogs (i hate ignorance in both senses of the word) but I think if you did some real research on the subject you might be surprised or at least more empathetic regarding the disease of addiction. Also, I agree Lillo should suffer consequences (we all have to) but in light of all the FACTS he should definitley not be convicted of murder at any degree.
Reply
12-29-2005 @ 5:44PM
LC said...
" Geez you people are so judgemental."
Well, yeah. I get that way when it comes to accesories to murder, but I'm funny that way.
The bottom line is that he made a jailhouse apology which is worthless. Everyone either apologizes or denies any wrong doing when caught. This little turd had a decent career, money and fame and decided to blow it all on drugs.
Now if he decided to keep to himself and shoot chemicals into his body, then fine, but no, he was too weak and decided it was better to break and enter with a man he new well and knew damn well owned a gun.
If he respected cops so much, he would have called an ambulance for himself and the cop after he was clear of the shooting, but like a bottom feeding dung beetle, he only tried to save his own sorry ass.
If he were really sorry he wouldn't be so self absorbed to be telling reporters he is thinking about writing a movie about his pathetic life under the B.S. guise of getting other kids off of drugs.
Reply
12-29-2005 @ 6:43PM
margrett said...
Believe me human beings do make life changing positions when something like this happens to them. Tragedy, here, yes it is. Unbelieveable, not so, Americans truly believe that someone who makes a serious mistake can be rehabilitated. Sometimes, unfortunately it takes a tragedy to wake up a thick skull, which it appears Lillo had while falling into addiction, etc. But remember, there's a human life here, and one with considerable talent. I hope he gets some help and a damn good lawyer! He needs both, but I really hope his talent can be saved and he ends up doing something good with his life. All the naysayers must have never made a mistake in life, (what a lie), I guess this entitles them to be so hard assed, and kicking the poor slob when he's down, chicken hearted, loosers.
Reply
12-29-2005 @ 7:07PM
LC said...
"All the naysayers must have never made a mistake in life, (what a lie), I guess this entitles them to be so hard assed, and kicking the poor slob when he's down, chicken hearted, loosers."
Oh please. Spare us the holier than thou attitude. To make the comparison of the average persons mistakes and this pukes mistake of being an accesory to murder is childish and uninformed. The only chicked hearted loser is the creep who was breaking into a home and hoping to score some valium.
BTW stop trying to change the story by referring to it as a tragedy. It was a murder. While he didn't pull the trigger, he was part of it. No different than the getaway driver of a bank robbery that resulted in murder.
Reply
12-30-2005 @ 3:28PM
beverly said...
Lillo Brancato is a worthless piece of crap...I hope he is repeatedly assualted in jail. Nobody wants to hear his apology, especially not the cop's family. And why doesn't the media just stop entertaining this self centered, talentless moron.
Reply
1-02-2006 @ 7:49AM
munson said...
fat steve pulled the trigger he even said lillo did'nt know he had a gun i rest my case if lillo was'nt famous this site woul'nt be here happy new year......
Reply
1-10-2006 @ 3:08AM
Hoof Hearted said...
Lilo don't drop the soap...
Reply
1-13-2006 @ 1:52AM
elaine Patino said...
Look, don't you lot ever watch Law and Order? Yes, he broke in to an apartment, but he thought it was unoccupied. He only went in to find a stash he remembered had been there. That was his intent, not the killing of a cop or anyone else. His mistake was being with a known criminal who had a gun and having really bad luck. Do you know how many guys do idiotic things when drunk or high? Perhaps Brancato should've thought, What if someone is inside? or What if this jerk has a gun on him? or Hey, what if a cop shows up and shoots at us? I dunno, but I must say he is old enough to know better than to get involved with a known criminal. Depending on the specifics such as his history, state of mind, intent, etc. it'll be either murder 2 or manslaughter.
Reply