US man fatally shoots masked teen outside neighbour’s home, learns it’s his son

NEW FAIRFIELD, Conn. – A U.S. man fatally shot a masked teenager in self-defence outside his neighbour’s house during what he thought was an attempted burglary and then discovered it was his son, state police said.

Police said 15-year-old Tyler Giuliano was shot shortly after midnight Thursday in Connecticut.

The neighbour, who is the teen’s aunt, was alone in her house and believed someone was breaking in. She called the teen’s father, Jeffrey Giuliano, who lives next door. He grabbed a gun, went outside, confronted someone wearing a black ski mask and black clothing and fired when the person went at him with a shiny weapon in his hand, police said.

When police arrived, the teen was lying in the driveway of the woman’s home with gunshot wounds and the father was sitting on the grass. The teen was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

An officer pulled back the ski mask. It was unclear if Jeffrey Giuliano already knew it was his son. It was also unclear if the teen was trying to burglarize the house or if it was some type of prank gone wrong.

“All in all it’s a tragedy,” state police spokesman Lt. J. Paul Vance said.

The teen’s father hasn’t returned a message seeking comment.

No charges have been filed.