Drive-By Murder Suspect Charged, Held On $1M Bail

MONTVILLE, CT — A 25-year-old man has been charged with murder in the drive-by shooting in Preston Saturday that claimed the life of Robert Thompson, state police said.

Francis L Giannelli of Glastonbury was held on $1 million bail.

Thompson, 35, was identified by state police as the person shot in killed in the shooting in the predawn hours Saturday, state police said. A person driving near the intersection of Route 12 and Route 2A called 911 at around 1:30 a.m. Saturday to say he heard gunshots on the roadway at the end of the Mohegan-Pequot Bridge. State police from Troop E in Montville responded but, according to a release from state cops, Ledyard Police were already "escorting" a car with gunshot victim Thompson inside to Lawrence + Memorial Hospital in New London. He was pronounced dead at the hospital.

According to his LinkedIn profile, Giannelli was a student at Manchester Community College. In a now-deleted Twitter account, Giannelli described himself as a "former fat kid came down from 404lbs pursuing my goal of being a competitive bodybuilder." In a later and still existing Twitter account, Giannelli wrote in 2017 he was frustrated but was not giving up on becoming a competitive body-builder.

Thompson, known as 'Robbie T,' was a weight-lifter and body-builder.

He was a union carpenter and worker who had recently landed a job at the new Electric Boat expansion project in Groton.

Police have not provided a motive for the killing.

Tuesday afternoon, Giannelli was arraigned in Norwich Superior Court where he was placed on a suicide watch, the Day reported.

Crime and justice reporter Karin Florin tweeted that the "heavyset" Giannelli, who wore an orange jail jumpsuit in court, was placed into "protective custody."

Florin reported that Gianelli said in court that he "probably shouldn't have done it" but claimed he fired all six shots from a .380 in self defense.

This is a breaking news story. Check back for updates.