Police Probe Link to Girlfriend's Husband
Two Arrests in Fireman Shooting; Another Expected

By Brad Barth

The investigation of the shocking murder of a popular Syosset firefighter has led detectives to the arrest of two Huntington men who have strong links to the estranged husband of the victim's live-in girlfriend, according to Detective Lieutenant Frank Guidice of the Nassau County Homicide Squad.

Antonio Bertolini, a 30-year-old former bouncer, and Christopher Rustici, a 23-year-old landscaper, both from Huntington, were arraigned November 14 on a count of Murder 2nd Degree for their alleged role in the August 22 fatal shooting of 38-year-old Paul Behr, a 17-year Syosset Volunteer Fire Department veteran and professional carpenter.

Though he declined to comment on the specifics, Guidice said that evidence strongly suggests that both men waited in a car outside of Behr's home on Fourth Place until the firefighter emerged. When Behr did step outside, said Guidice, Rustici approached him and shot him in the right side with a 22 caliber gun, hitting his heart and lung. He then jumped back into the car, driven by Bertolini, as Behr cried out for help, eventually being spotted by two neighborhood boys, stated Guidice.

However, the investigation is continuing, as police attempt to assure the involvement of their third suspect. According to Guidice, who firmly stressed that no one has been charged, homicide detectives are investigating Franco Caloccia as the man who plotted the murder. Based on Guidice's statements, it seems apparent that police are not so much trying to rule in Caloccia as they are tightening a case against him. Caloccia is the estranged husband of Linda Caloccia, who, while living with Behr, has been undergoing divorce proceedings.

Bertolini, who was arrested on Wednesday, November 12, is the nephew by marriage of Caloccia, while Rustici, arrested a day later, is an acquaintance of Bertolini.

Guidice emphasized that while the detectives' investigation was extremely thorough and open to all possibilities, he said that a link with Caloccia was explored early in the investigation. The lieutenant characterized the relationship between Behr and Mr. Caloccia as "strained." Upon probing Caloccia's background, said Guidice, detectives found the link with Bertolini, and "ultimately, we developed information that [Bertolini] accepted a contract from Mr. Caloccia to assault Paul Behr."

The lieutenant said that Bertolini had owed Caloccia a debt which was to be erased when he carried out his attack on Behr, and that there was to be a payment of several thousand dollars to compensate Bertolini and Rustici.

On the night of the homicide, medical personnel and members of Behr's own fire department arrived before the firefighter lost consciousness, and were clued in by a vague statement that Behr was able to make. "Basically there was an indication to people...that were tending to him at that time that he knew who would be responsible for this, but he did not specifically name a person," said Guidice. He "just indicated that these people should know who is responsible."

Guidice also said that Linda Caloccia was aware of the conflict between Behr and her estranged husband.

The lieutenant suggested that jealousy or revenge over losing Linda Caloccia to Behr is the motive behind the crime. "Whether he was trying to punish her or punish him, that's not quite clear yet," said the lieutenant.

Many of Behr's best friends, fellow fire department volunteers, have grieved over the death of their brother, and now find tempered comfort and relief that two suspects have been identified and captured, and that a third arrest seems probable. The word, stated Chief Dennis Hendrickson, is "relief."

"We're very relieved at least that it's starting to come to an end, and the unknown factor is gone," said Chief Dennis Hendrickson of the Syosset Fire Department. "We congratulate the Nassau County Police Department and Homicide on their countless hours and tireless work, which we personally witnessed, and we're very appreciative to the individuals that did the investigation."