The girlfriend of a 75-year-old veteran who was shot and killed in his home by a Ridgefield police officer last May has filed lawsuit against his estate, claiming that she feared for her life after having a gun pressed against her chest.
Anna Messina of Danbury filed the suit June 4, seeking more than $15,000 in compensation for a litany of charges against her late boyfriend, John Valluzzo, including battery, negligence, and emotional distress.
According to the lawsuit, Ms. Messina did not live with Mr. Valluzzo, but regularly stayed at his Ridgebury Road home. On the day of the incident, May 24, she called him to say she was coming to his house to get some of her things, but was treated as an invader upon her arrival.
Mr. Valluzzo began “shouting belligerently” at her, the suit said, before holding a phone to his ear and shouting “911, home invasion” several times.
She went into the bedroom to get her belongings, which is when he pulled a silver revolver from a pouch beside his bed and pointed it at her, the suit said.
The suit claims at one point he “recklessly pressed the revolver against the Plaintiff’s chest.”
“As a result of Valluzzo’s conduct, the plaintiff feared for her life, and has suffered emotional distress, anxiety, eating problems, sleep disorders, and diarrhea,” wrote attorney Steven Smart, who is representing Ms. Messina. “Plaintiff has been forced to expend large sums of money and will continue to have expenses for future medical care, medicine and therapy, all necessary to her recovery.”
Andrew Buzzi, the attorney acting as the executor of Mr. Valluzzo’s estate, could not be reached for comment Tuesday.
Mr. Buzzi filed a notice of intent to sue the town in October, claiming that the department failed to follow procedures pertaining to domestic violence calls and acted with excessive force.
State Police completed their investigation into the fatal shooting on March 31.
State’s Attorney Stephen Sedensky has been reviewing that report and is expected to make a final conclusion on the incident by as early as this week.
According to earlier reports, Mr. Valluzzo had been drinking heavily and was waving his gun around.
When officers arrived, he did not respond to their orders to drop his gun and advanced toward them.
Officer Jorge Romero, a seven-year veteran, fired two rounds from his handgun, striking Mr. Valluzzo in the torso.
Officer Romero was placed on administrative leave for two and a half months before returning to the force last August.