Grucci remorseful over shooting grandson
A tear rolls down Joseph Grucci's face at Riverhead Criminal Court where he said he was sorry for shooting his grandson. (January 5, 2011) Credit: James Carbone
After admitting in court that he shot his grandson during an early morning confrontation outside his Bellport home, Joseph Grucci - a member of the famed Grucci fireworks clan - Wednesday described the shooting as a family tragedy.
Grucci, 70, probably will not serve time behind bars after Suffolk prosecutors agreed to a plea bargain less than a week after the Dec. 30 shooting, which left Christopher Giresi, 20, with wounds to his arm and torso.
Surrounded by family members outside court in Riverhead, Grucci told reporters he was protecting himself when he fired two shotgun rounds at Giresi following an altercation between the two men outside Grucci's Wards Lane home.
But Grucci said he held no animosity toward his grandson, who has lived with him at the house for at least a decade.
"It's a terrible thing. It should have never happened," Grucci said after pleading guilty to second-degree assault in Suffolk County Court. "The main thing is, I want Christopher to get better because I love him."
Grucci is expected to be sentenced to probation on March 15. County Court Judge Gary Weber ordered him to avoid Giresi for one year.
Prosecutors said Giresi did not want his grandfather to go to jail for the shooting.
Giresi remains in Brookhaven Memorial Hospital Medical Center in East Patchogue. He declined to comment Wednesday when a reporter called his room.
Grucci is a first cousin of former Rep. Felix Grucci, an officer of Fireworks by Grucci and former Brookhaven Town supervisor.
Prosecutors said Giresi made noise and awoke his grandfather when Giresi and several friends came to the house in the early morning hours of Dec. 30 after a night of drinking at a Smithtown bar.
Giresi "lost his temper and trashed the place" when Grucci confronted him, District Attorney Thomas Spota said at a news conference after Grucci's court appearance.
When Giresi threatened to kill Grucci if the grandfather called police, Grucci grabbed a shotgun and shot Giresi twice - the second time in the back as Giresi fled, Spota said.
Efforts to reach Giresi's parents Wednesday were unsuccessful.
Giresi faces pending charges of drug possession and grand larceny in Suffolk County Court. An attorney for Giresi did not return calls for comment Wednesday.
Grucci said Giresi has struggled with drug and alcohol abuse.
"Maybe God had something to do with this," Grucci told reporters. "Maybe Chris will get the help he needs."
'Almost nearly eliminate your risk' Long Island sisters Amy Lynn and Danielle Safaty each had both breasts removed in their 20s, before they had any signs of breast cancer. Newsday family reporter Beth Whitehouse reports.
'Almost nearly eliminate your risk' Long Island sisters Amy Lynn and Danielle Safaty each had both breasts removed in their 20s, before they had any signs of breast cancer. Newsday family reporter Beth Whitehouse reports.
