Staff Photo / Ed Runyan Michael N. Bruno, 49, sits during his arraignment hearing in Mahoning County District Court in Boardman. He was being arraigned on video from Mahoning County Jail Tuesday.

BOARDMAN — Michael N. Bruno, 49, tried to plead guilty, asked to go to mental health court, apologized, and said he was “very confused.” .

Bruno is a former lieutenant with the Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office, serving as a reserve lieutenant in 1995 and becoming a full-time lieutenant in April 2000. He retired in November 2006.

He was charged with the shooting death of his father, Michael J. Bruno, 74, who was dead when Boardman police arrived at his Leland Avenue home in Boardman on Saturday morning.

Boardman Police reported that Michael N. Bruno called 911 at 7:30 a.m. to tell police that he had shot his father. It was not clear what disease he was talking about.

When officers arrived, he was sitting on the lawn in his front yard wearing boxer shorts, flip flops and a polo shirt with blood on his arms, head and shirt, the report said.

During the arraignment, Judge Joseph Hauser asked Bruno several times, his comments about the mental health court and his guilt, whether he understood the charges against him, whether he had anything to say. He said he didn’t answer the questions the judge was asking, such as whether or not the amount of bond the assistant county attorney had recommended.

He advised Bruno not to discuss the facts of the case. did not.

Bruno does not appear to have a criminal record in Mahoning County.

mental health

When Hauser first spoke to the defendant, who was arraigned on video from Mahoning County Jail, he asked if he understood that Bruno was charged with a crime that could lead to more than 10 years in prison. I was.

Bruno didn’t answer right away, but eventually said, “I want to go to mental health court.” But the judge told him that the arraignment was only a preliminary matter, saying, “We’re not quite there yet. Do you know the charges, Mr. Bruno?”

“Yes,” Bruno replied.

Hauser told Bruno that the next hearing would be a preliminary hearing to determine if there were any probable causes for him to have committed the crime. I asked him if he wanted the hearing to be held within ten days.

“Guilty,” Bruno replied.

“Okay, not a guilty plea at this point,” Hauser told him.

The judge has set a hearing for September 27 at 11:00 am.

Bruno then testified that he had little money, stating that he would need a court-appointed lawyer. He said he earned about $300 in two weeks at his job, had about $600 in his bank account, and owned no cars or real estate.

A Boardman police report indicated that Bruno had been working as an unarmed security guard for the past two weeks.

Assistant prosecutor Katherine Jones asked that the judge keep Bruno in prison in lieu of $500,000 bail, citing the type of crimes involved. I asked Bruno if he had anything to say.

“I am deeply sorry for what happened to Mahoning and Trumbull counties and surrounding counties,” he said. “And I just want mental health to make my life better and work and treat people right. I’m sorry. I never meant for this to happen.”

“Okay,” said the judge, “I don’t want the facts of the case touched upon.” “I just want to know if there’s anything I’d like to say on your behalf regarding Kizuna. Nothing else.”

Bruno said he was “very confused”.

The agent who was with him in prison again explained the question and said Bruno had nothing to say about the bail amount.

Hauser has set the bond at $500,000.

crime scene

According to the police report, the first officers to arrive at the house off Matthews Road found Bruno sitting in the front yard with a mobile phone. rice field. Officers ordered Bruno to extend his arms and lie prone, which he did and was handcuffed.

Bruno said his father was the only one in the house.

When officers asked Bruno what happened, Bruno said he had been “ill for at least the last week and a half and had two quick tests at home.”

Officers asked if he meant being tested for COVID-19, and Bruno said yes. When Bruno was asked about guns, Bruno said, “Illness made him carry guns.” He denied arguing with his father before shooting him, reports say.

“So you shot him?”

“Yes,” said Bruno.

He told the officer he owned a “baby Glock” he got when he was a law enforcement officer. That’s the gun he used when he shot his father.

Bruno said he contracted COVID-19 twice and had to quit his security job. “This disease is taking over America,” Bruno said. Officers took Bruno to St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital for treatment before he was put in prison.

Bruno told the police that he hoped his father was alive, and that his mother was in a nursing home. Police later contacted her mother to inform her of Bruno the Elder’s death.

Officers obtained a search warrant to search the home.

Police reports said several firearms were found in the home, including a Glock pistol and many used bullet shell cases.

erunyan@vindy.com