NORTH ANDOVER — Edward Manzi took his girlfriend, Catherine Lambert, and their baby for a visit to Ipswich River Park on Saturday, but later became angry and abandoned them there for hours. He returned to the park and brought them home, where he erupted in a violent tirade that left Lambert and her mother, Patricia Lambert, injured, according to court records.
Manzi, 47, of 125 Windkist Farm Road, a popular elementary school teacher in Tewksbury, was in court yesterday facing a variety of charges, including attempted murder for allegedly pulling a gun away from Patricia Lambert, holding it to her head, and pulling the trigger several times. The gun malfunctioned and misfired each time.
According to the prosecutor and court records, as Catherine Lambert was packing Manzi's clothing in a basket for him to leave, Manzi punched her in the face and then struck her in the head with a computer speaker and monitor. She ran out of their apartment and ran to her mother, who was outside on a horse.
Patricia Lambert ran to the apartment and asked Manzi to give her the baby and he refused. She said she threatened to call police and that is when Manzi punched her in the face and knocked her to the floor.
Patricia Lambert said when she stood up, Manzi reached into her pocket and took her gun — a Walther PPK .380-caliber semiautomatic pistol — and began hitting her on the head with it. As he allegedly hit her, a live round was ejected from the pistol.
She said Manzi then held the gun to her head and repeatedly pulled the trigger. After the gun misfired, she said Manzi backed away and asked "how long he had." She said she told him five to 10 minutes and he replied, "No way, you tried to shoot me."
Patricia Lambert said she left with the baby and Manzi left with her cell phone and gun and drove away.
Manzi told police he threw the gun out of the truck on Boston Street when police called him on the cell phone after the incident.
He was picked up in Salem, N.H., the following day when police traced calls made from the phone to an apartment where he was staying.
Manzi's lawyer, Anthony Rozzi, said his client was upset because Catherine Lambert was allegedly drinking alcohol at the park. Rozzi said there was some pushing and shoving at the couple's apartment, but Catherine fell over their computer table and that is how she was injured.
He also suggested Patricia Lambert pointed the gun at Manzi and he disarmed her.
"This is a case where Mr. Manzi was trying to defend himself," Rozzi said.
"There is a lot going on here, but he has no record other than a reckless driving charge and no history of violence."
Rozzi asked a "nominal bail" of $5,000 to $8,000 be set on Manzi, but Judge Barbara Pearson ordered him held in jail until a March 23 hearing, where a judge will decide whether he poses a danger to the community and should be locked up pending his trial.
Tewksbury School Superintendent Christine McGrath said Manzi has been suspended from his job without pay at the John F. Ryan Elementary School.
"He is suspended without pay for the foreseeable future," she said.
Manzi also is charged with assault and battery and illegal possession of a handgun, carrying a firearm without a license, carrying a loaded firearm without a license, assault and battery, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, armed assault with intent to murder, larceny over $250, malicious destruction of property over $250, and intimidation of a witness.
