Foxboro to hold a vigil for slain boy
Town shaken by brutal killing of 6-year-old
The town of Foxboro is rallying around the family of a 6-yearold boy who police say was shot and killed by his father in what an official is calling “an unthinkable tragedy” that has shaken the tight-knit community to its core.
“This is the kind of event that no one ever wants to see happen, and when it does, it causes us all to take pause in the community,” Foxboro Town Manager Bill Keegan told the Herald yesterday.
“Clearly this is an unthinkable tragedy that has affected nearly everyone with whom I have spoken.”
Keegan said the town is organizing a vigil for little Anthony Scaccia, who police say was shot and killed by his father, William Scaccia, at the boy’s mother’s house on East Street before the 49-year-old took his own life late Thursday night.
The vigil, Keegan said, will hopefully be held this week.
A small memorial of flowers and stuffed animals was arranged outside the house yesterday as distraught residents gathered at Bethany Congregational Church.
“I feel a deep sense of loss for the surviving family and a desire to demonstrate compassion to those who touched Anthony’s life,” the Rev. David Fountain said.
“There are so many involved and so many in need of an opportunity to come and grieve together and unite behind all those who contributed toward trying to bring hope and healing amid the despair . ... We believe by coming together we can draw strength from each other during a time of terrific grief and sadness.”
Although Fountain said the church has no direct connection to the family, it was clear community members were looking for a place to come together and grieve.
“People in town are looking for a place to put their grief,” Fountain said.
“This is simply an opportunity for us to open our doors.”
William Scaccia, an Iraq war veteran, had never been convicted of a crime but had frequent run-ins with police in recent years.
In 2013, Anthony’s mother filed for a restraining order against Scaccia, saying he had threatened to kill their son. After the order was granted, Scaccia told officers his guns were in New Hampshire, but officers noticed a bulge in his waistband and found a handgun.
Days before he allegedly killed his son, Scaccia was arrested on weapons charges after his ex-girlfriend called police to report Scaccia had hidden an unlicensed gun in her home.
Police did not enter the home to search for weapons, Foxboro police Chief William Baker said, because they didn’t have probable cause to suspect there were additional weapons inside.
After he was arrested, prosecutors declined to seek cash bail during his arraignment Monday.
David Traub, a spokesman for the Norfolk District Attorney’s office, said prosecutors sought and received an order from the judge that Scaccia stay away from guns and ammunition and didn’t seek bail because Scaccia did not have a history of missing court appearances.