HAVERHILL — A family is demanding answers in the wake of the death of a 43-year-old Haverhill man who died following a run-in with police Friday. Following his death the outcry from loved ones and the public, some of whom watched the event outside a seafood restaurant in Haverhill and made social media posts, prompted a protest that made its way through the city Sunday afternoon.
Nearly 50 people gathered at G.A.R Park on Sunday afternoon to honor Francis Gigliotti, who died shortly after being restrained by police officers outside Bradford Seafood on Winter Street two days earlier.
The crowd at the park consisted primarily of family, friends, and neighbors who shared emotional memories of Gigliotti and expressed frustration with the Haverhill Police Department. Many called for justice, accountability, indictments by the district attorney, and – at the very least, as Gigliotti’s fiancée Michelle Rooney said – a response from local officials.
“He was just very loved, and he was a good man, despite what the police thought,” Rooney said, wiping away tears.
Gigliotti, she said, had long struggled with mental health issues and also had lost several close family members.
Family members at the park included his aunt, niece, stepdaughter, and mother, all echoing his fiancée’s message and characterizing the police actions as excessive.
“He did not deserve this. Francis did have a lot of mental health issues and just needed help,” Dynisa Gonzalez said.
“I don’t think (that many) police officers, honestly, should have been on top of him as he’s screaming for help and turning blue,” she continued.
Those who witnessed Friday’s melee shared videos throughout social media, showing the moments leading up to Gigliotti’s death.
District Attorney Paul F. Tucker and Haverhill police Chief Robert Pistone said in a statement that officers responded to calls reporting a man, Gigliotti, “acting erratically” near 115 White St. on Friday evening. Video surveillance footage shows Gigliotti running through traffic in the middle of the street, nearly being struck several times, according to their statement.
When arriving on the scene, according to reports, officers called for an ambulance to assess his well-being, but the man fled on foot and attempted to enter Bradford Seafood.
Police restrained Gilgiotti at the restaurant’s entryway for safety purposes, they say. Videos captured by witnesses and circulated online show the moments leading to the victim’s death.
Footage shows several officers restraining him as he yells for “help,” while bystanders are heard warning officers that the man has mental health issues. Minutes later, he appears motionless and first responders begin administering lifesaving aid. EMS personnel later transported him to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
“I want to offer my condolences to the family of Francis Gigliotti and assure our community that I am closely monitoring the circumstances around his tragic death,” Haverhill Mayor Melinda Barrett said. “The District Attorney’s office is investigating. I promise complete transparency to our community and ask that everyone remain patient and calm as this investigation ensues and more information is made available.”
At the protest family members said they have not received any direct contact from police or investigators.
“They haven’t contacted none of us,” said his aunt Muriel Enos. “Nobody has reached out to our family.”
Shawn Rooney, Gigliotti’s brother-in-law, held a sign calling on Tucker to file seven indictments against the officers involved in the incident.
“DO HIS JOB, OR VOTE HIM OUT!” the sign read.
The crowd parted as Gigliotti’s mother, Mary, who uses a wheelchair, was pushed forward to join her grieving family. Surrounded by relatives, she sat quietly wiping away tears as speakers honored her son.
After the speeches, the group marched down Bailey Boulevard and halted at the Haverhill Police Department. At the station’s front doors, the protestors chanted “Justice for Francis,” while ringing cowbells and taping signs to the building’s windows.
From there, the march continued to City Hall, where the calls for indictments — or any response from local authorities — carried on.
“No justice, no peace,” the crowd said repeatedly throughout the afternoon, refusing to let Gigliotti’s final moments go unnoticed.