"Sopranos" Actor Sorry for Cop Killing
A former Sopranos thug fingered in the slaying of an off-duty New York cop has offered a jailhouse mea culpa.
Speaking to the New York Post from the confines of Rikers Island, Lillo Brancato Jr. says the Dec. 10 murder of Daniel Enchautegui came after a botched burglary attempt to score Valium.
The 29-year-old actor, known for playing Robert De Niro's son in 1993's A Bronx Tale and for his recurring role as a wannabe gangster offed by Tony Soprano in the second season of HBO's Mafia series, faces charges of second-degree murder, burglary and illegal weapon possession. His accomplice, Steven Armento, 48, faces the same counts along with the more serious charge of first-degree murder for allegedly being the trigger man.
"I'm not a cop killer," Brancato told the Post during a 40-minute interview. "I value life."
The actor said he had no idea Armento was packing a handgun as they left a strip club on an ill-fated hunt for drugs. "If I would have known, I wouldn't have allowed him in my car," Brancato said. "Imagine, we get pulled over and I get caught with an armed felon in my car. Since I've been in the movies, it would have instantly drawn attention."
According to police, Enchautegui, 28, confronted the pair after he heard them breaking into a Bronx apartment. Armento allegedly pulled his gun and shot the officer in the chest, but Enchautegui managed to shoot both suspects before collapsing.
The Post described Brancato as tearful and haggard and still not fully recovered from his bullet wounds. The actor reportedly made the sign of the cross at every mention of the dead officer's name.
"If I had the chance, I would want to meet his family and look them in the face and tell them how sorry I feel about what happened," he said.
He then suggested he might take the stand at trial to tell jurors "how horrible I feel about my stupidity."
The actor also admitted a long history of drugs and booze, dating back to his youth, which he blamed in part on his being adopted.
Brancato told the paper he had discussed writing a screenplay about his life with actor-director-writer Chazz Palminteri.
"By doing this, it might help other kids avoid getting mixed up with drugs," Brancato said.
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