Press Releases
03/15/2022
Jury Finds New Haven Man Guilty of Manslaughter in Shooting Death of Girlfriend
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(New Haven, CT) - Patrick J. Griffin, New Haven State’s Attorney, announced that, on March 7, 2022, Anthony Valeriano , age 53, formerly of Quinnipiac Avenue, New Haven, was found guilty by a jury of Manslaughter in the First Degree with a Firearm, in violation of Connecticut General Statutes § 53a-55a. The jury trial was presided over by the Honorable Jon M. Alander. Following pronouncement of the verdict, Valeriano was taken into custody by Judicial Marshals after his bond was increased to $750,000. Sentencing is scheduled before Judge Alander on May 2, 2022.
Valeriano’s conviction stems from the shooting death of his girlfriend, Natosha Gaines, age 44, in their shared apartment in New Haven on the night of October 17, 2020. Gaines died as the result of a single gunshot to the head, discharged from a replica 1851 Navy .44 caliber black powder revolver. Following investigation, Valeriano was arrested by warrant and charged with Manslaughter in the First Degree with a Firearm.
In the aftermath of the incident, Valeriano told New Haven Detectives that the shot was caused by an accidental discharge of the weapon which occurred when he tripped. Prosecutors introduced evidence during the trial from both the Chief Medical Examiner and a firearms expert that refuted the story Valeriano told investigators.
State’s Attorney Griffin thanked the New Haven Police Department for their investigative efforts and commended the work of Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney Lisa D’Angelo and Assistant State’s Attorney Adrienne Russo in prosecuting the case. Additionally, State’s Attorney Griffin thanked the Hartford Police Department, the Rhode Island State Crime Lab, and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for their assistance in the investigation.