A man has been arrested and charged in connection with the fatal stabbing of a 23-year-old CVS employee on Christmas night in Lindenhurst, Long Island, police announced Friday. The deadly attack occurred inside the store and left the community mourning the loss of a young worker.
Suspect Charged With Second-Degree Murder
Authorities say 43-year-old John Pilaccio was arrested Friday and charged with second-degree murder for the stabbing of Edeedson Cine, a CVS employee from West Babylon. Pilaccio is currently being held at the 3rd Precinct and is expected to be arraigned on Saturday.
Deadly Attack Inside CVS on East Montauk Highway
The incident took place around 7 p.m. Thursday at the CVS located at 20 East Montauk Highway. Police say Cine was stabbed in the chest while working behind the counter.
He was rushed to Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center in West Islip, where he was later pronounced dead.
Police say the suspect fled the store on foot immediately after the attack.
Detectives Search for Clues as Community Pays Respects
On Friday, detectives were seen searching sewer grates outside the store for additional evidence related to the stabbing. Meanwhile, customers and community members stopped by the CVS to honor the victim.
Customer Michael Flannery described Cine as a polite and hardworking young man.
“He’s a very nice gentleman, just to say hello and he just did his business,” Flannery said. “I’m very close to the pharmacy.”
Motive Remains Unclear
Investigators have not yet determined whether the suspect and victim knew each other or whether the stabbing stemmed from a dispute inside the store.
Police say witness accounts and surveillance footage helped identify Pilaccio as the suspect. Authorities believe he may have been inside the CVS “for nefarious reasons,” though they did not elaborate.
CVS confirmed it provided surveillance footage to Suffolk County police, noting that compiling the video “took quite a bit of time” due to specific formatting requirements.
Summary
A 23-year-old CVS worker was fatally stabbed on Christmas night inside a Lindenhurst store. Police have arrested and charged 43-year-old John Pilaccio with second-degree murder. The investigation continues as detectives search for additional evidence and community members remember the young victim. Stay updated with developing crime stories and local news at HonkNews.com.