Timeline: Inside the Fatal Meriden Police Shooting of Robert Jenkins Jr.'s Attacker
By Sophia Al-Mansoor
Q1: Who was Robert Jenkins Jr. in the Meriden incident?
A1: Robert Jenkins Jr. was the father bludgeoned to death outside his home on Sagamore Road in Meriden, Connecticut, by his son, Robert L. Jenkins III, on July 19, 2026.
Q2: Why did Officer Anthony Offiaeli use deadly force?
A2: Officer Offiaeli arrived on the scene and witnessed Jenkins III actively beating his defenseless father with a baseball bat. The officer gave clear verbal orders to stop, but Jenkins III continued the fatal assault, prompting the officer to fire to defend the father's life.
Q3: Did Robert L. Jenkins III have a documented criminal or psychiatric history?
A3: Yes. Investigative records and court documents indicate Jenkins III had a history of psychiatric episodes, including a documented prior assault on a fellow patient in a specialized medical facility.
Q4: What agency is handling the investigation into the shooting?
A4: The Connecticut Office of Inspector General is the primary agency running the independent inquiry into the officer's use of force, supported by the Connecticut State Police Western District Major Crime Squad.
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