For Immediate Release

Tuesday, April 3, 2018

Media Contact: Benjamin Paulin
Phone: 781-428-3299
Email: ben@jgpr.net

Easton Police Charge Man in Christmas Day Shooting

EASTON — Chief Gary Sullivan reports that the Easton Police Department charged an East Bridgewater man who allegedly shot a man on Christmas morning last year.

LEE J. FRUZZETTI, AGE 53, OF EAST BRIDGEWATER was charged with:

• Assault and Battery with a Dangerous Weapon
• Assault and Battery with a Firearm
• Carrying a Firearm without a License

“These charges are the result of an extensive investigation into what happened that morning,” Chief Sullivan said. “Our detectives have been working diligently with many of our area law enforcement partners and I thank them for their assistance in this case.”

At approximately 2:49 a.m. on Dec. 25, the Easton Police Department responded to a home on Massapoag Avenue for a report of a person shot inside the residence.

Upon arrival, officers were directed to a rear pool house, where they located a man who had been shot twice by an assailant who was later identified as FRUZZETTI.

Multiple rounds were fired into the pool house from the outside.

The victim, a 50-year-old man, was struck in the shoulder and side of his torso and was transported to an area hospital with injuries that were serious, but not believed to be life-threatening.

The initial investigation indicated that the attack was not random.

After a thorough investigation – involving multiple law enforcement agencies and State Police detectives assigned to the Bristol Count District Attorney’s office – it was determined that FRUZZETTI was the shooter.

He is expected to be arraigned Wednesday in Taunton District Court.

FRUZZETTI has been in custody at the Bristol County House of Correction since his arrest on Tuesday, Feb. 20 on multiple charges. He is currently being held without bail on three separate cases. He is facing charges of:

• Assault with a Dangerous Weapon, Knife
• Intimidation of a Witness (Two Counts)
• Providing False Information to a Public Safety Answering Point

Those charges are the result of three arrest warrants issued against him by Easton Police.

On Jan. 28, Easton Police responded to Corfinio restaurant, 285 Washington St., for a report of a disturbance involving a man with a knife. Officers responded and spoke to a male victim and his girlfriend. Following a subsequent investigation, it was determined that FRUZZETTI had confronted them and allegedly pulled a knife on the man.

FRUZZETTI fled before officers arrived and police were unable to locate him. No one was injured in the incident and an arrest warrant was issued.

On Feb. 9, FRUZZETTI allegedly called the Easton Police dispatch center claiming that he knew he had a warrant out for his arrest and that he was at a home on Massapoag Avenue in Easton. When officers arrived, he was not at the home, and a second warrant was issued for the charge of Providing False Information to a Public Safety Answering Point.

On Feb. 13, FRUZZETTI called the victim that he had confronted outside of Corfinio restaurant. As a result of that conversation, the victim called police in fear for his own safety and a third arrest warrant was issued for FRUZZETTI.

These are allegations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty.

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