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The bodybuilder accused of shooting his parents in their Long Island mansion broke down in court Monday — after getting a disapproving look from his father.
Dino Tomassetti, 29 — who needed three sets of handcuffs to restrain his bulging arms — cried inside the Nassau County courtroom as he was arraigned on an indictment charging him with attempted murder, assault and gun possession in the Christmas Day shooting of his parents, Rocco and Vincenza Tomassetti, inside their Hewlett Harbor mansion.
His parents were both in the courtroom.
The accused gunman looked at his father in the audience during the proceedings, with the elder Tomassetti staring back and shaking his head at his handcuffed son.
At one point, the suspect, who sat on the side of the courtroom, began crying, then quickly composed himself but kept his eyes on this father throughout the proceedings before Judge Terrence Murphy.
Dino Tomassetti pleaded not guilty as the mother of his son also looked on.
“A holiday morning traditionally marked by peace and joy was shattered when Dino Tomassetti allegedly entered his parents’ home on Christmas Day, began arguing with his family, and shot them both,” Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly said in a statement after the arraignment.
“The defendant allegedly fled the scene and was apprehended later that day in New Jersey,” Donnelly said. “The victims have made remarkable strides in their recovery and are lucky to be alive today.”
Outside the courthouse, defense lawyer William Petrillo insisted that his client’s parents were “100 percent behind” their son.
“I think anyone looking at him today could see even with the mask on that it was just a highly emotional day for him as well as his family,” Petrillo said. “I think you would see tears in all of their eyes and just heartfelt emotions back and forth for everybody.”
Petrillo would not say if his client’s parents are paying for his defense.
Police said Dino Tomassetti allegedly flipped out when his parents refused to let him take his 2-year-old son with him when he left the home.
He is accused of shooting both his parents, then pistol-whipping his father when he ran out of bullets, according to police.
Both victims were treated at a local hospital and released.
The attack happened in front of the toddler and his mother, Klarisa Perez, authorities have said.
Dino Tomassetti fled the mansion and drove to New Jersey, where he was eventually arrested and shipped back to Nassau County to face the charges.
He has been held without bail since his arraignment.
The hulking bodybuilder worked as a personal trainer at Retro Fitness in Queens.
In all, he faces nine counts in the indictment, including endangering the welfare of a child and first- and second-degree assault.
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