Farmington Hills Teen Arrested In Fatal Family Assault
FARMINGTON HILLS (WWJ) - Farmington Hills police have arrested a 19-year-old man in the fatal beating of his own father overnight. The mother and 17-year-old brother of the alleged assailant, Tucker Cipriano, were critically injured in the attack.
Cipriano and a second man were being questioned Monday afternoon.
WWJ Newsradio 950's Ron Dewey got the details from Farmington Hills Police Chief Chuck Nebus.
"It appears that he and a friend were in the house, broke in, we're not 100 percent certain ... the motive could have been to steal money," Nebus said.
"There was a confrontation with the family members and it led to a physical assault. It appears to be with baseball bats."
Killed was 52-year-old Robert Cipriano, director of public services for the Dearborn Schools.
Tucker Ciprinao was taken into custody Monday morning after the pickup truck he was in was spotted in Keego Harbor, where police said he was hiding at a friend's house.
Several Farmington Hills schools were on lockdown as police went door-to-door in the neighborhood of the 11 Mile Road and Orchard Lake area.
Next door neighbor Marion Linn told WWJ the mother, Rose Cipriano, had some trouble with her adopted son. But she was still shocked to hear what happened.
"I didn't really think of it ... that he would do anything like this. But I know that she's had a lot of problems with him ... just a kid gone wrong, I guess," she said. "That kid would walk the streets. He just looked like trouble waiting to happen, and it finally happened."
Linn said the Ciprianos were a very nice family who were good with their four kids.
Dearborn Schools spokesperson Dave Mustonen described Bob Cipriano as a friend and colleague who had a passion for sports. Mustonen said he regularly attended students' games and always put the students first.
Guidance counselors were on hand Monday at Catholic Central High School in Novi where the suspect's brothers are enrolled.
Rose Cipriano and her injured son were listed in critical condition at Botsford Hospital as of Monday afternoon.
