Lawyer: Father who shot masked son 'in state of anguish'

By Sevil Omer, NBC News A Connecticut father who fatally shot what he thought was a masked prowler outside his home only to discover it was his 15-year-old boy is "in a state of anguish," his lawyer said on Monday. "It is a very emotional time," attorney Gene Zingaro told NBC News. "The family is left asking so many questions that will go unanswered forever. There will never be a satisfactory answer. The father and the whole family are utterly devastated. The father is in a state of anguish." "The family has been broken in half by this tragedy," Zingaro said. Zingaro said he spent time with the Giuliano family Sunday during a memorial service for Terry Giuliano, who was shot to death Thursday outside his family's house in New Fairfield, a town just north of Danbury. Zingaro said details of the evening have left Terry's father, Jeffrey Giuliano, inconsolable and physically ill. Jeffrey Giuliano went outside with a gun around 1 a.m. after his sister called him to say someone was trying to break into her house next door. When he went outside, Giuliano saw a knife-wielding man wearing a black ski mask. The masked figure approached him in a threatening manner, police said. Giulano fired a single shot, killing the purported prowler. It was only hours later that Jeffrey Giuliano learned that the slain suspect was his adopted son, causing him to weep and vomit at the scene. "He was in disbelief and a state of shock," Zingaro told NBC News. Zingaro said Jeffrey Giuliano, a popular fifth-grade elementary teacher, will not face criminal charges. "It is my belief that it will be termed an accidental shooting, and he will not face charges," Zingaro said. State police say they are continuing to investigate. No charges have been filed. Zingaro said Giuliano and his wife adopted Tyler and his sister about four years ago. "It's a tragic loss that cannot be measured," Zingaro said. More content from NBCNews.com: Calif. governor vetoes bill that OK'd towns freeing undocumented immigrants Feds: Suspect in multimillion-dollar scam is Harvard law grad Pranked teen shines at homecoming ceremony Police: No foul play in missing NJ teen Kara Alongi case Video: Gearing up for Wednesday's big debate Follow US News from NBCNews.com on Twitter and Facebook More content from NBCNews.com: Calif. governor vetoes bill that OK'd towns freeing undocumented immigrants Feds: Suspect in multimillion-dollar scam is Harvard law grad Pranked teen shines at homecoming ceremony Police: No foul play in missing NJ teen Kara Alongi case Video: Gearing up for Wednesday's big debate Follow US News from NBCNews.com on Twitter and Facebook