Jan Ackerman Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Copyright 2005 P.G. Publishing Co.
Indianapolis Patrolman Mike Antonelli, a Mt. Lebanon native, was shot while on duty Nov. 20 and blinded in his right eye.
Patrolman Antonelli is recovering. An East Chicago man has been charged with trying to kill him.
“He went back home [from the hospital] on Thanksgiving or the day before,” said Lt. Lloyd Crowe, chief information officer for the Indianapolis police.
He said that Patrolman Antonelli, who has been on the force for 21/2 years, went to the Indianapolis Colts-Pittsburgh Steelers game Monday night and that he had given several interviews to the news media.
Lt. Crowe could not predict what long-term impact the shooting would have on the young patrolman’s career.
He was shot during a traffic stop and struck by one bullet.
“The shooter fired five times,” Lt. Crowe said.
Kenya Wright, 26, the man charged with shooting Patrolman Antonelli, was arrested Nov. 22 by U.S. marshals and police in East Chicago, where he lives.
Lt. Crowe said Mr. Wright was arrested on unrelated charges but had been charged with attempted murder and fleeing from law enforcement with a vehicle.
Lt. Crowe was not certain when Mr. Wright would be brought to Indianapolis to face the charges.
Patrolman Antonelli, the son of Carol and Richard Antonelli, of Mt. Lebanon, helped lead Mt. Lebanon high school’s soccer team to a WPIAL championship in 1997.
He graduated from Indiana University and is engaged to be married.
His parents flew to Indiana after the shooting to be with their son.
Jan Ackerman can be reached at jackerman@post-gazette.com or 412-851-1512.
December 1, 2005