Top HN Images: A man wearing a Barnstable Department of Public Works uniform cleans a homeless man’s blood off the brick walkway on the Hyannis Village Green near Barnstable Town Hall this morning… flowers on the bench were placed there by another homeless individual. Insert image: Nicholas Galanto and his attorney at this morning’s arraignment at Barnstable District Court.

BARNSTABLE – According to reports filed in Barnstable District Court, late Sunday evening, Trooper Matthew R. Lavoie of the Cape and Islands State Police Detective Unit was notified regarding a homicide by stabbing at the Village Green at the Barnstable Town Hall, 367 Main Street in Hyannis.

Trooper Lavoie contacted Barnstable Police Detective Sergeant John York and was told there had been an altercation between two homeless males that resulted in one of them being stabbed with a knife.

The stabbing victim, identified as Brenden S. Flynn, age 23, was transported to Cape Cod Hospital where he was pronounced dead. The victim would have turned 24-years-old on the 30th of this month (DOB 5/30/1995).

A witness of the stabbing reportedly identified the suspect as Nicholas A. Galanto, age 32, and told officers that he was last seen leaving the park in an easterly direction on a dark colored bicycle.

At about 10:38 p.m. last evening, Barnstable Police received a 911 call from an individual, stating he had witnessed Flynn being stabbed near a bench located a short distance from Main Street.

Detectives reportedly observed surveillance footage from a camera located on the south end of the Village Green. According to Trooper Lavoie’s report, “In the minutes after Barnstable received the 911 call about the stabbing, a figure could be seen walking east across the park from the area where the stabbing occurred, past a shed on the east side of the park and towards the parking lot on the eastern edge of the park…”

Upon arrival on scene, Barnstable Police Patrolman Matthew Melia “observed a bench closest to the Main Street side of the park with what appeared to be blood in the grass approximately 5 feet from the bench,” according to Trooper Lavoie’s report. The witness described the suspect to Patrolman Melia as someone he knew as “Nick,” and pointed out the direction he had fled. While the witness was being transported back to BPD Headquarters by another patrol officer for further questioning, he happened to see a photo that popped up on the patrolman’s mobile data terminal. The witness reportedly immediately identified the photo to be that of Nicholas Galanto, the man he said had stabbed Flynn. (It’s important to note that at this point the transporting patrolman says he was just in the process of loading his screen, which had been on standby, and that he did not intentionally show the witness the suspect’s image…)

According to Trooper Lavoie’s report, at about 1:06 a.m., detectives were interviewing the witness when he stated, “he arrived at the Village Green Park after getting out of work late… Flynn and [the witness] were talking near the park bench when [the witness] and Flynn saw Galanto approach them from the bandstand. [The witness] saw a knife in Galanto’s right hand and described the blade as a steel blade that looked new. [The witness] stated that Galanto swung the knife at Flynn and [himself] and stabbed Flynn in the chest. Flynn immediately fell to the ground and was bleeding from the chest… Galanto [then faced the witness telling him] that he had something for [him] also while waving the knife in [his] direction. [The witness] then took a metal chain off his wallet in an effort to defend himself after which Galanto started moving away from [him.] [The witness] then attempted to render first aid to Flynn and while doing so observed Galanto wiping his hands on the grass. [The witness] stated that prior to the stabbing Flynn had talked to Galanto at the bandstand but did not know what was said. [The witness] stated that after the stabbing, Galanto walked past a shed on the eastern side of the park, past some blue barrels and into the parking lot on the eastern edge of the park.” The witness continued to report that Galanto was last seen heading in the direction of Hyannis Harbor. The witness gave a basic description of what the suspect had been wearing, but told detectives he had been more focused on the knife in the suspect’s hand.

At about 1:00 a.m. this morning, Barnstable Police Officers Roy and Jones located Galanto in the backyard of an unoccupied residence at 78 Channel Point Road in Hyannis. Officers reportedly observed what appeared to be blood on the suspect’s bicycle. Galanto was transported back to BPD Headquarters to be interviewed.

Officer Roy returned to the parking lot on the eastern edge of the Village Green where he located a folding knife in the closed position, with what appeared to be blood on the blade.

Another witness from the Village Green told detectives that earlier in the evening, Galanto had shown him a knife he had just bought at K-Mart. When asked why he spent money on a knife. Gilanto reportedly responded, “you never know when you’re going to need a knife.”

In an interview, Galanto reportedly waived his rights and agreed to speak with detectives. Trooper Lavoie’s report continues: “Galanto said he had gotten to the Village Green in the afternoon and stayed in the area of the band stand until the evening. Galanto said that at some point in the evening he had a verbal altercation with a white male with blond hair (Flynn is a white male with blond hair). Galanto said that he had issues with this male in the past. Also present with the male with blond hair was a male with short dark hair ([The witness] has short brown hair). Galanto stated that after getting into an argument with the male he left the park on his bicycle then went to the harbor before finding an unoccupied home near the harbor. [Galanto] denied having a knife and denied getting into a physical altercation or stabbing anyone at the park. Galanto then said he no longer wished to speak with us. Following the interview Galanto was placed under arrest for Murder.”

Nicholas A. Galanto, age 32, homeless in Hyannis, with a last known address of the Saint Joseph Shelter at 77 Winter Street in Hyannis, was arraigned this morning in Barnstable District Court on the charge of Murder.

Judge James McGovern ordered Galanto held without bail pending further court proceedings. Galanto is due back in court on June 25, 2019.

The following HN Video highlights today’s arraignment of Nicholas Galanto…

[PRESS PLAY]

* All suspects are presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in a court of law…

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