Family and friends of 43-year-old Francis Gigliotti are seeking answers following his death during a confrontation with police outside the Bradford Seafood Restaurant in Haverhill, Massachusetts. Video footage from the evening of September 29, 2024, shows police officers restraining Gigliotti, who was reportedly “behaving erratically” and attempted to enter the establishment on Winter Street. According to the Essex County District Attorney’s Office, Gigliotti became unresponsive during the altercation.
During a protest held in Haverhill, Gigliotti’s fiancée, Michele Rooney, described the distressing scene. “When I got there, there were seven or eight officers on top of him, and he’s yelling, ‘Help me, I can’t breathe,'” she recounted. “It’s something that will be etched in my brain forever.”
Demonstrators marched from G.A.R. Park to the Haverhill Police Department and then to City Hall, expressing their outrage over the handling of the incident. Family members allege that police mishandled the situation, particularly given Gigliotti’s history of mental health issues and recent personal tragedies, including the loss of his mother and brother, as well as being struck by a vehicle.
“He needed support, and nobody was there to do that for him,” said protester Robyn Krieger. “Clearly, you can see they had no crisis intervention team whatsoever that was coming.” Gigliotti’s brother-in-law, Shawn Rooney, called for accountability, stating, “They should lose their jobs and be indicted for murder.”
The family has expressed frustration at the lack of communication from city officials regarding Gigliotti’s death. “We are his voice,” emphasized his niece, Leti Torres. “Everybody here is his support, and they need to hear that we’re not letting this go silently.”
In a response to the situation, Haverhill Mayor Melinda Barrett extended her condolences to Gigliotti’s family in a Facebook post on September 30, 2024. She stated that she is “closely monitoring the circumstances surrounding his tragic death,” and promised “complete transparency” to the community, urging patience as the investigation unfolds.
The District Attorney’s Office has opened an investigation into the incident, aiming to provide clarity on the events leading to Gigliotti’s death. As the community seeks justice and answers, the impact of this tragedy resonates deeply among family, friends, and supporters, highlighting ongoing concerns regarding mental health support and police interactions.
