Bodybuilder Who Attempted To Shoot His Parents Dead on Chrismas Day Breaks Down In Court After Seeing Dad

On Monday, a Brooklyn bodybuilder has been indicted after allegedly flipping out when his parents refused to let him take his 2-year-old son with him, ultimately opening fire in their Hewlett Harbor residence on Christmas Day.

Dino Tomassetti, 29, broke down inside the Nassau County courtroom as he was arraigned on nine counts in the indictment, including two counts of second-degree attempted murder, first-degree and second-degree assault, and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon; and one count of endangering the welfare of the child.

The accused gunman pleaded not guilty on all the charges, which stemmed from the alleged Christmas Day shooting of his parents, Rocco and Vincenza Tomassetti, inside their $3.5-million mansion following a row about who would care for his 2-year-old child, the New York Post reported.

Tomassetti, who worked as a personal trainer at Retro Fitness in Queens, reportedly proceeded to pistol-whip his father when he ran out of bullets, according to police. The attack unfolded in front of his toddler and the child's mother, Klarisa Perez.

“A holiday morning traditionally marked by peace and joy was shattered when Dino Tomassetti allegedly entered his parents’ home on Christmas Day, began arguing with his family, and shot them both,” Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly said in a statement.

“The victims have made remarkable strides in their recovery and are lucky to be alive today,” she added per Long Island Herald.

According to Donnelly, the defendant would flee the scene and be later hunted down by police in New Jersey. Dino was then shipped back to Nassau County to face the charges, held without bail since his arraignment.

On Monday, Rocco and Vincenza were in the courtroom while the hulking bodybuilder, restrained with three sets of handcuffs, kept his eyes on his father throughout the proceedings before Judge Terrence Murphy. The elder Tomassetti would stare back and give his handcuffed son a disapproving look.

Outside the courthouse, defense lawyer William Petrillo insisted that his client’s parents were “100 percent behind” their son but stopped short at confirming if his client’s parents have been paying for his defense.

“It was never the intent of Dino Tomassetti to hurt anyone,” he said per CBSNewYork. “I think anyone looking at him today could see even with the mask on that it was just a highly emotional day for him as well as his family. I think you would see tears in all of their eyes and just heartfelt emotions back and forth for everybody.”