James Iannazzo was arrested for hurling a drink at a smoothie shop employee in an expletive-laced rant captured on a TikTok video (watch below).
On a TikTok video taken in a Robeks store in Fairfield on Saturday, James Iannazzo, 48, yelled, �F�-ing stupid, f�-ing ignorant high school kids.�
Iannazzo, a Merrill Lynch employee since 1995, was enraged that day after his nut-allergic son went into life-threatening anaphylactic shock after drinking a drink from the store, resulting in the 17-year-old hospitalization.
The video shows Iannazzo standing at the store�s counter, demanding to know who made his son�s drink. It also shows him refusing to leave when workers said they didn�t know, and after they repeatedly requested him to leave due to his behavior.
He exclaimed, �I want to speak to the f�-ing person who made this drink!�
Iannazzo was charged with �intimidation based on bigotry or bias in the second degree, second-degree breach of peace, and first-degree criminal trespass� after turning himself in on Saturday. On February 7, he is scheduled to appear in Bridgeport Superior Court.
�He deeply regrets his actions and acted completely out of character,� Iannazzo�s lawyer Frank Riccio said in a statement.
Merrill Lynch fired Iannazzo on Sunday after learning of the TikTok video, which has over 2.6 million views since being shared on Twitter.
�This type of behavior is not tolerated by our company,� Merrill Lynch spokesman Bill Halldin said.
�We investigated right away and took action.� �This individual is no longer employed at our firm,� Haldin said, referring to Bank of America�s investment and wealth management division.
I�ve identified this man as James Iannazzo of @MerrillLynch being racist and assaulting a minor Pic.Twitter.Com/O8Ic6jyh3p
� Danesh (@thatdaneshguy) January 23, 2022
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