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Background: News footage of the CVS in Lindenhurst, N.Y., where Edeedson Cine was fatally stabbed on Dec. 25 (News 12 Long Island). Inset (left): John Pilaccio at his arraignment on Dec. 27 (News 12 Long Island). Inset (right): Edeedson “Eddy” Cine (GoFundMe).
A tragic incident unfolded on Christmas Day when a New York man was apprehended in connection with a deadly stabbing at a local pharmacy. The suspect, John Pilaccio, 43, is now facing charges of second-degree murder and is being held without bail.
The Suffolk County Police Department reported that the victim, 23-year-old Edeedson “Eddy” Cine, was on duty at a CVS in Lindenhurst, New York, during the evening of December 25. At approximately 7 p.m., Cine was stationed behind the counter when Pilaccio allegedly approached and stabbed him in the chest before fleeing the scene.
Cine was quickly transported to a nearby hospital, but tragically, he succumbed to his injuries, as confirmed by a GoFundMe page dedicated to his memory.
Local ABC affiliate WABC reported that witnesses identified Pilaccio as the attacker. Surveillance footage from the store purportedly shows Pilaccio wandering around before confronting Cine. The video allegedly captures Pilaccio lunging at Cine with a knife, followed by a violent altercation where he jumped over the counter to continue the assault before escaping.
Authorities successfully tracked Pilaccio to his residence, where he was taken into custody on Friday without any resistance.
During a courtroom appearance on Saturday, covered by News 12 Long Island, court documents revealed that Pilaccio and Cine were strangers. The motive behind the attack was reportedly financial, as Pilaccio, allegedly in debt, admitted to planning a robbery. According to police, Pilaccio confessed to the stabbing, stating that Cine’s refusal to comply with his demands led to the violent encounter.
News 12 Long Island spoke with Cine’s brother, who told the station that Cine was not scheduled to work on the night he died. He was filling in for a friend’s shift on Christmas night. In a GoFundMe campaign benefiting Cine’s family, a relative wrote, “He had a fierce heart for service, and his love for his family and friends was unwavering. That love will continue to live on through all who were blessed to know him.”
Pilaccio was charged with second-degree murder. He remains in custody at Suffolk County’s Third Precinct, where he is being held without bond. His next court date is scheduled for Dec. 31.
