‘Sopranos’ actor charged

New York

An actor who played an aspiring mobster on the HBO series The Sopranos is being held this week in the murder of an off-duty New York City police officer. The actor, Lillo Brancato Jr., 29, allegedly broke into a Bronx apartment with an accomplice, Steven Armento, 48, to steal prescription drugs after a night spent drinking in a strip club. The men were surprised outside at 5:20 a.m. by the policeman, Daniel Enchautegui, 28, who lived next door. A gunfight erupted between Enchautegui and Armento. Enchautegui was killed, and both Armento and Brancato were wounded. The actor was discovered as a teenager when a movie executive was struck by his resemblance to a young Robert De Niro, and cast him as De Niro’s son in A Bronx Tale. Friends said a heroin habit had steered Brancato astray.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up