By Allison Klein
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, April 21, 2006

An intruder got into Patricia Caniglia's stately, two-story Fort Washington home just before dusk Wednesday and shot her dead. Before the intruder could leave, Caniglia's son grabbed a shotgun and pumped three shots into the man, killing him.

Prince George's County police were piecing together the crime yesterday, trying to figure out whether the intruder was a thief or had some other purpose for being in the house.

"We're still looking to see how he got into the house," said Cpl. Debbi Carlson, a police spokeswoman. "We're looking at whether robbery is a motive."

The shootings took place about 7:40 p.m. in the 13500 block of Piscataway Drive, a neighborhood filled with well-appointed homes, long driveways and manicured lawns. The front of the house yesterday had no obvious signs of forced entry.

Patricia Caniglia, 59, owned Mama Mia's Pizza in Waldorf with her husband, Rocco, 62. Friends said they worked long hours, overseeing the restaurant's day-to-day operations.

Their son, Antonio, 24, was questioned and released by police Wednesday. Prince George's State's Attorney Glenn F. Ivey said he would not decide whether to file charges against Antonio Caniglia until the police investigation is complete. "Then we'll decide if charges are appropriate," Ivey said.

Police said yesterday they had not identified the intruder.

A neighbor on Piscataway Drive said her husband saw a burgundy-colored car, driven by a young woman, pull up next to the Caniglias' house about the time of the killings. A man got out of the car and walked into the house through what appeared to be an unlocked front door, she said. The woman drove off, and the man did not come out of the house, said the neighbor, who asked not to be identified because of safety concerns.

The Caniglia family was not home yesterday and could not be reached for comment. Court records show that Antonio Caniglia has been convicted of several crimes, including, in 2003, possession of marijuana and having a handgun in his vehicle. He was given probation before judgment for attempting to drive a vehicle under the influence.

Mama Mia's Pizza, which is just over the Prince George's line in Charles County, was closed yesterday. Kim Camp, owner of nearby Vogel's Flowers, described the restaurant as a "mom and pop" place and said the Caniglias were there every day. She said the pizza, subs and calzones are "fabulous."

Antonio Caniglia was at the restaurant almost every day, taking orders and waiting on customers, Camp said. In addition to a son, the Caniglias have 29-year-old twin daughters, who worked at the restaurant until they started their own careers.

"They are a very close-knit, hardworking family," Camp said. "They are very Italian, very good-hearted people. That someone would come to their home and do this is just mind-blowing."

She said she and other storekeepers were numb from the news.

According to the Web site of an Italian American group called the Abruzzo and Molise Heritage Society, Rocco Caniglia was born in Italy and came to Washington when he was 14. He went to Suitland High School and served in Vietnam.

Property records show that the Caniglias had lived in their home for 26 years.

Neighbors on Piscataway Drive said yesterday that crime is rare in their community.

"Things like this just don't happen here," said Terri Robinson, who lives across the street. "It's just awful."