Abington husband charged with murder

By John R. Ellement and Andrew Ryan, Globe Staff

ABINGTON -- Residents on a quiet side street in this town made repeated 911 calls to police Tuesday night when bursts of gunfire erupted at the home of John and Barbara Tassinari.

Barbara Tassinari’s brother, Frank Scolano, lives next door to the couple on Pilgrim Street and heard the blasts. Scolano grabbed his .32-caliber silver pistol and ran outside to try to help his sister, according to a police report.

Scolano met John Tassinari, who said his wife had been unfaithful, according to the report. Twenty-nine-year-old Barbara lay dead on the driveway with apparent gunshot wounds to her head, police said.

"I'm gonna to kill you," Scolano yelled, according to the report. "You killed my sister, you shot my sister."

Scolano took John Tassinari to the ground, according to report, and pressed the silver pistol to the back of his head. At that moment, Officer Ronald Sweeney pulled up in his police cruiser, drew his firearm, and ordered Scolano to put down his gun, the report states.

John Tassinari, 29, was arrested at the scene. He was arraigned in Brockton District Court today on one count of murder and held without bail.

Abington Police Chief David Majenski said that Tassinari used two .45-caliber pistols to fire more than a dozen rounds, which could be heard by dispatchers as neighbors flooded police with 911 calls. Additional weapons were recovered in the home, Majenski said.

Assistant District Attorney Shelby Smith said in court that Tassinari called 911 after the shooting, told Abington police that he killed his wife, and went outside to wait for officers to arrive when he ran into Scolano.

Defense lawyer William F. Sullivan called the slaying a “horrific tragedy” but declined to discuss specifics of the case.

Tassinari was issued a firearm permit in 2004, Majenski said. Before Tuesday night, Abington police had never responded to the couple's home for reports of domestic violence or any other reason, Majenski said.

An autopsy has been scheduled today by the state medical examiner to determine Barbara Tassinari's official cause to death. No additional information was released.

This morning, detectives were still combing through the blue split-level house with tan shutters on the west side of Abington, which is 20 miles south of Boston.

John Ellement can be reached at ellement@globe.com

(Justine Hunt/Globe Staff)

John Tassinari was taken to court today by Lieutenant Kevin Smith and charged with killing his wife.

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