A Willimantic man already in custody in connection with a shootout between him and police that started at the house where his father was later found dead was charged with murder on Friday.
Andrew Samuolis, 34, of 31 Tunxis Lane, had admitted that he shot his father dead inside their home, then stayed with the rotting corpse for four months until June 25, when police were called by neighbors worried they had not seen the father for months, according to police.
A Willimantic officer was wounded in the arm that day.
Samuolis was in Superior Court in Danielson on Friday on six felony attempted assault and other charges stemming from the shootout when he was additionally charged with murder, first-degree assault, attempt to commit first-degree assault, assault on public safety personnel and attempt to commit assault of public safety personnel.
He is being held in lieu of $3 million bond, state police said in a press release Saturday. He is scheduled to return to court on Dec. 3.
Police found the body of John Samuolis inside the home, where one neighbor told police he had seen flies swarming on interior windows. An autopsy concluded John Samuolis died from gunshot wounds, state police said Saturday.
At Samuolis’s initial court apperance on June 27, court officials said the suspect suffered from “serious underlying mental issues,” was collecting disability payments from Social Security but had no prior criminal record.
During the incident June 25, Samuolis shot at officers, wounding a Willimantic officer in the arm when the officer entered the home, according to police. Samuolis then ran from the family home and shot at police who eventually captured him near the Windham IGA grocery store on Route 32, police said.
Police said that Samuolis was wearing a ballistics vest and had a handgun when captured, and that they also found a rifle outside the Tunxis Lane home.
Detectives from Eastern District Major Crime Squad conducted the investigation, with the assistance from the Central District Major Crime Squad, the Criminal Investigations Units from Troop C in Tolland, and Troop K in Colchester, the Emergency Services Unit, and officers and Detectives from the Willimantic Police Department. worked on the investigation, which resulted in the arrest, state police spokesman Lt. J. Paul Vance said Saturday.