Neighbor of CT boy burned by gasoline releases video

BRIDGEPORT — The neighbor of a 6-year-old Bridgeport boy hospitalized in April after being burned by gasoline in a Lousiana Avenue backyard shared a video of the day of the incident for the first time publicly Friday.

The family of the 6-yearold, Dominick Krankall, had said another child purposely threw a lit tennis ball that had been soaked in gasoline, causing significant burns to the boy’s face and arms.

In interviews with Hearst Connecticut Media Group, the other child’s mother, Laura Giacobbe, has adamantly denied the Krankalls’ characterizations of her son’s involvement in the incident.

During a press conference at their home on Friday, the Giacobbe family showed video of the incident to reporters on a TV. Their lawyer, Christian Young, said he’d been hired by the family to explore whether they can sue for what he described as the Krankalls’ “malicious characterization” of the events.

Reached by Hearst Connecticut Media after the press conference, Dominick’s parents, Maria Rua and Aaron Krankall, stood by their account of the incident and said they’d defend themselves in court.

“Bring it on,” Aaron Krankall said of the lawsuit threat. “We have nothing to hide here.”

Young said the Giacobbe family has been “living in fear” of what he said was “vigilante backlash that was inflamed by the Krankalls’ complete mischaracterization” of the incident.

The lawyer called the burning a tragic accident. “It was no more than that,” Young said Friday.

Laura Giacobbe said she wants to sue if her lawyer finds a cause of action.

Since the incident, Giacobbe said they had an instance where BB guns were shot at their home, and that the family has received threatening phone calls.

A security camera on the back of the upper East Side home captured the children playing in the backyard but does not clearly depict the incident, which occurs just out of view.

What specifically happened to cause his injuries is unclear from the footage. In the video, Giacobbe’s 8-year-old can be seen in a corner of the backyard, most of his body obscured from view.

In a matter of seconds, Dominick walks toward where the 8-year-old is located, out of the camera’s view. The 8-year-old boy then runs back into view, with Dominick falling onto the ground as flames lick at his clothes.

Giacobbe said that at the time of the incident she left to take dinner to two of her other sons at work, and said she thought Rua was watching the boys in the backyard — a statement that Rua disputes.

Last week Bridgeport police said that after reviewing the footage, they found “nothing on the video portraying any of the children deliberately injuring the other” — adding that the investigation remains ongoing.

In a public Facebook post Thursday, Giacobbe thanked family and friends for their support, noting that she “empathized” with the Krankalls, who she had considered family.

“They were always open and welcoming into my home, so it was a big surprise and very shocking to me, and my family the things that were said,” Giacobbe wrote. “Because of the untruth, my family has suffered tremendously and still going through it. We were judged, we received death treats, and more.”

Rua and Aaron Krankall agreed the relationship used to be better.

“There were times when we’d all get along,” Aaron Krankall said. “Then within five minutes there’d be an issue.”

“What were we going to do?” he said.

Dominick Krankall left the hospital early last month after first responders from around the state held a parade for him. The family was also taken to a Yankees game on May 11.

A crowdfunding page set up by the family has raised nearly $600,000.

The family has since moved out of the house and is currently staying at a hotel, Aaron Krankall said. They have found a new home but have not yet moved there, and do not want to publicize where it is.

He said his son continues to recover and is doing well, but isn’t allowed in the sun yet.

“His spirits are high as always,” Aaron Krankall said.