Jury: Man Guilty Of Manslaughter In Shooting Death Of Girlfriend

New Haven CT

15 March, 2022

5:14 PM

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NEW HAVEN, CT — The jury has spoken. Tuesday, Anthony Valeriano, 53, of New Haven, was found guilty of first-degree manslaughter with a firearm, New Haven State's Attorney Patrick J. Griffin announced. He is due to be sentenced May 2. After the verdict, Valeriano was taken into custody by Judicial Marshals and his bond was increased to $750,000. Valeriano's conviction stems from the shooting death of his girlfriend, Natosha Gaines, 44, in their shared apartment in New Haven on the night of Oct. 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, Griffin said. Following investigation, Valeriano was arrested by warrant and charged. In the aftermath of the incident, Valeriano told New Haven police detectives that the "shot was caused by an accidental discharge of the weapon which occurred when he tripped," Griffin said. But during trial, prosecutors provided evidence from both the state Office of the Chief Medical Examiner and a firearms expert that "refuted the story Valeriano told investigators," Griffin said. In a news release, Griffin thanked the New Haven Police Department for its "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. Griffin also acknowledged the Hartford Police Department, the Rhode Island State Crime Lab, and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for their assistance in the investigation.