Police: Three Men Arrested Following Argument Over Money

An East Haven elementary school went into lockdown Wednesday afternoon as a precaution while police investigated a nearby incident that reportedly involved a gun.

The firearm turned out to be a pellet gun, police said, and was allegedly displayed during an argument that three East Haven men were having over money. The three men were arrested Wednesday afternoon on multiple charges.

According to police, officers responded to the area of 150 South Shore Drive at about 3:10 p.m. on Dec. 18 after receiving a report that a man had been observed outdoors pointing a firearm at another man. 

Upon arrival officers located a male, later identified as Kevin Marino, who told them that he had gotten into an argument with another male over a money. During that argument, Marino reportedly told police, another male retrieved a handgun from a Jeep and pointed it at him. That person then drove off in the Jeep towards Momauguin, the police report states, and, as a precaution, a lockdown call was immediately made to school officials at the elementary school. 

Police said the Jeep was located unoccupied behind 150 Cosey Beach Road, and a handgun in plain view was seized from inside the vehicle. The weapon was later determined to be a pellet gun, police said.

The men arrested and the charges are:

Kevin Marino, 19, of 460 Silver Sands Road in East Haven, was charged with two counts of carrying a dangerous weapon and breach of peace. He was released on a $5,000 bond. 

Nicholas Malavasi, 18, of 30 Catherine St. in East Haven, was charged with conspiracy to commit second-degree robbery and breach of peace. He was released on a $10,000 bond. 

Gregory Wagner, 29, of 150 Cosey Beach Road in East Haven, was charged with criminal attempt to commit second-degree robbery, breach of peace, carrying a facsimile firearm, failure to carry prescription in a container, possession of a controlled substance, and possession of narcotics. He was released on a $20,000 bond. 

Police said Wagner was also charged with an unrelated failure to appear arrest warrant for motor vehicle charges. 

All three men are scheduled to appear in New Haven Superior Court on Jan. 2.