By ALYSON MARTIN
On this West Street block in Gravesend, across from P.S. 216, it’s a bit like Cheers. Everyone seems to know the Sainos.
Once or twice a week, Thomas, Kathleen or Vincent Saino would pop into Bake City Bagels in the morning. Or, they’d head next door to A&S Italian Pork Store, where the owner Joseph Paolillo, Jr. said he knows the family as customers and long-time friends.
Paolillo grew up in the neighborhood, and in some ways, at the Saino house. He was always there as a child he said, playing with Vinny or just hanging out. A lot of neighborhood kids spent time at the house. Paoillo says he knew about the family’s gun collection when he was young, but never saw them.
Thomas, Kathleen, and Vincent Saino were arrested Saturday, along with Michael Poole, a friend who was living with them, after police searched their home at 2438 West St. with a warrant. Police found an extensive collection of guns and knives and extra materials that could be used to make homemade ammunition. Police also found a large quantity of pills in the residence, according to NYPD reports.
“I knew about the guns growing up, but believe me, I was shocked. They’d never hurt anyone,” Paolillo said. “They were up in the attic collecting dust. I never saw them.”
The 10 handguns, two assault riffles, nine shotguns, and nine rifles were family heirlooms from Thomas’ father, Paolillo said. NYPD is still counting some items as of Tuesday afternoon, but police also found two crossman air guns, one umbrella with a dagger hidden in the handle, one sword, one machete, three daggers and one hunting knife.
After the man died, the family acquired the vast collection, he said.
“They’re just a regular family,” Paolillo said. “They’re just a little crazy.”
A search of all four of those charged living at 2438 West St. showed no previous weapons-related criminal charges.
On Monday afternoon, the two-story Saino residence was quiet. No one answered doorbells and two cars were parked in the driveway, one with license plates and registration, one without. A cross made from a palm branch, likely from a Palm Sunday service, was fixed to the front door and covered the hole used to see out from inside.
He Weihong lives two doors down from the Sainos. His two young children play in the neighborhood and attend school across the street.
“I didn’t have any reaction. I wasn’t surprised. It’s America. A lot of people have guns,” he said.
The Saino home is located across from P.S. 216, a kindergarten through fifth grade public school. The children are off for a school break this week, but a member of the facilities staff, who would only identify himself by his first name, Richie, said he knew the Sainos for more than two decades.
“When someone told me there was an arrest with guns, I knew it was them because they were a little wacky. I doubt if they were going to make any bombs or sell the weapons or do anything bad with it,” he said.
Richie said the Sainos were always a go-to family for those in need, but they had their problems. There was a history of alcoholism.
“As crazy as they were, they were good people,” he said. “They took everybody in. I’m sure somebody just dropped the dime on them.”
Paolillo found one of his employees at the A&S Italian Pork Store a home with the Sainos. Julio Romero lives in the basement apartment, which is converted to be a full one-bedroom apartment. Romero has lived there for about five years and said he has never had any problems with the Sainos. Sometimes, when Romero gets out of work at 6 p.m., the family will be out talking and they’ll have a conversation. Otherwise, everyone tends to keep to themselves, he said.
“I was surprised, but they’re good people,” Romero said.
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