#Glen #Mills #teen #shot #state #police #I95 #spectator #lawyer
As the friends and family of Anthony Allegrini Jr. grapple with his violent death, a lawyer for the family says he was a spectator and not a participant in the highway mayhem that state police say led to his shooting by troopers on Interstate 95 in Philadelphia Sunday morning.
Enrique Latoison, a Media lawyer retained by the family of Allegrini, 18, Glen Mills, said statements from police about the shooting do not tell the full story of who Allegrini was.
“He’s somebody who was never in trouble before, he’s somebody that graduated high school last year, is currently working three jobs,” Latoison said. “A consistent theme from his friends and family and people that know him is to talk about what a great kid he was, he was a person who made friends easily, he was a person that affected all those around him.
“This was not somebody that was involved with doing donuts in the middle of Philadelphia. He was not involved in blocking 95, he was a spectator in this event.”
Allegrini grew up in Norwood and played ice hockey for the Haverford Hawks before graduating from Interboro High School in 2022. He worked at Concordville Nissan in Concord and was planning on joining the Steamfitters Union in the coming weeks. His father has been a steamfitter for the past 25 years.
His family moved to Glen Mills two years ago.
“He had plans, he had big plans and a full life ahead of him,” Latoison said.
Latoson said the car he was in that evening was his pride and joy. He saved up to purchase it by working three jobs.
During a Monday press conference state police Capt. Gerard B. McShea said troopers were dispatched to Interstate 95 in the area of Penn’s Landing just before 3:30 a.m. Sunday for vehicles and pedestrians blocking the roadway. He said that upon arrival, troopers found a large group of cars blocking lanes while doing “burnouts” and “drifting,” with a number of pedestrians watching.
When officers attempted to make contact with the driver of a 2019 Audi, two troopers say they were struck by the vehicle when the driver failed to yield, troopers said.
One of the troopers discharged his service pistol and struck Allegrini. The troopers who were struck sustained minor injuries, according to officials.
Latoison said that the morning of the shooting family members tracked Allegrini on a phone app and then went to the scene but were not provided any answers as their son lay under a tarp nearby.
“All they were told was there was a shooter and the shooter is in custody,” Latoison said. “It doesn’t take much for someone to say, yes that’s your son. Can you imagine standing on 95 at 5 o’clock in the morning and wondering, you see your son’s car and wondering where that’s your son beneath the tarp. Not too hard to say, yes it is.”
Latoison also pointed to video from the morning that appears to show Allegrini not receiving any medical aid.
He said there needs to be a full investigation and release of police videos, and the family will not rest until it is done.
Latoison said Allegrini was always respectful to police and authority and was trying to leave when the shooting occurred.
Latoison said hundreds of cars were there that morning, yet Allegrini singled out.
“He wasn’t a drifter, he wasn’t shooting a flamethrower up in the air,” Latoison said.
Asked if spectators bear some responsibility for these incidents, Latoison said in this situation the highway was blocked off and Allegrini wasn’t involved in the mayhem.
“Do the spectators cause the people to show off or vice versa, I don’t know, but I know he was a really good kid and he had a whole life ahead of him and we’re looking forward to an open investigation,” Latoison said.
Latoison the two others in the car were held in custody for hours and after being released they spoke to the family and recorded their video testimony.
A viewing will be held for Allegrini at Pagano Funeral Home in Garnet Valley afternoon.
| Read More Latest News From United States of New Jersey |
