Second Suspect Charged In Preston Drive-By Shooting Case

MONTVILLE, CT — Troopers arrested a second suspect in connection with the fatal drive-by shooting in Preston last month.

Michael Soto, 42, was charged by state police with risk of injury to a minor and failing to secure a weapon. He was held on a $500,000 bond.

The criminal summary provided by state police does not explain how those charges fit with the middle-of-the-night drive-by shooting on Route 2A near the intersection with Route 12. Indeed, the state police documents only reference the day and location; Oct. 27 at 1:27 a.m. on Route 2A.

Francis L Giannelli, 25, of Glastonbury was charged with murder in connection with the drive by slaying. He claims it was self-defense. He's being held on $1 million bail in the killing of Robert Thompson, 35.

The shooting

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. Thompson was pronounced dead at the hospital.

The suspect

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.

The victim

Thompson, known as 'Robbie T,' was a weight-lifter and body-builder and 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. But reports indicate the tow men had seen each other at Mohegan Sun and words were exchanged. It's reported that Giannelli claimed that Thompson and another man made a pulling-trigger hand sign at Giannelli and the man said he had to defend himself. It was 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.

Read the full Patch story here.