Bridgeport home invasion suspect captured in Florida

BRIDGEPORT — A New York man, who fled the area while awaiting trial for a violent home invasion here, was captured in Florida.

Zachary Lupinacci, 20, of Katona, N.Y., was brought back from Orlando, Fla., on Friday by Bridgeport police detectives Martin Heanue and Adam Roscoe.

He is charged with home invasion, risk of injury to a child, third-degree strangulation, second-degree unlawful restraint, violation of a protective order and failure to appear in court.

During Lupinacci's arraignment hearing Friday afternoon, Assistant State's Attorney Peter Cunniff urged Superior Court Judge Maria del Pilar Gonzalez to set a high bond for Lupinacci for fleeing the jurisdiction while awaiting trial on bond.

The judge set Lupinacci's bond at $1 million.

According to Bridgeport police, on April 11, 2022, officers were called to a home on Catherine Street.

When officers arrived, police said they heard screaming coming from inside the home and witnesses pointed to the second floor. When they got to the second floor police said officers saw Lupinacci holding a woman down on the floor. They said he was taken into custody.

Police said Lupinacci and the female victim were previously involved in a relationship but when the woman broke it off Lupinacci, despite having a protective order against him, began texting her that he was going to kill her.

“I'm about to break into your house and (expletive) murder you,” police said one of the texts stated.

Police said Lupinacci broke into the woman's home while she was sitting in the living room with her 2-year-old son. He grabbed her, dragged her upstairs and was choking her with his hands when officers arrived, police said.

He was released after posting $300,000 bond.