(SUFFOLK COUNTY, N.Y.) – Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced that John Pilaccio, 43, of Lindenhurst, was indicted for one count of Murder in the First Degree and other related charges, for stabbing Edeedson Cine, Jr., 23, of West Babylon, to death while Cine was working at a CVS in Lindenhurst on Christmas Day.
“While families in our community were celebrating Christmas, one family suffered an unimaginable loss. My heart goes out to Edeedson Cine, Jr.’s loved ones for their loss, which must be especially hard during the holidays,” said District Attorney Tierney. “This senseless tragedy should have never happened. I thank the Suffolk County Police Department for their swift work in apprehending the defendant so that he could be held accountable for this alleged crime.”
According to the investigation, on the evening of December 25, 2025, shortly before 7:00 p.m., Pilaccio allegedly entered a CVS in Lindenhurst. After walking around the store, Pilaccio allegedly approached the victim while holding a knife, lunged at him, and stabbed him in the chest. Pilaccio then allegedly jumped over the front desk where the victim was working and continued to attack him with the knife before fleeing the store.
Within minutes, members of the Suffolk County Police Department’s First Precinct arrived and rendered aid to the victim with the assistance of members of the Lindenhurst Ambulance Company.
The victim was transported to Good Samaritan Hospital where he was pronounced dead. The Suffolk County Medical Examiner’s Office conducted an autopsy which revealed the victim’s cause of death was sharp force wounds to both his head and chest.
The following day, on December 26, 2025, members of the Suffolk County Police Department arrested Pilaccio in Lindenhurst.
On January 7, 2026, Pilaccio was arraigned on the indictment before Acting Supreme Court Justice Karen M. Wilutis for one count of Murder in the First Degree, a Class A felony, and two counts of Murder in the Second Degree, Class A felonies. Justice Wilutis ordered Pilaccio remanded without bail during the pendency of the case.
Pilaccio is due back in court on February 23, 2026, and faces up to life in prison without the possibility of parole. He is being represented by Steven Fondulis, Esq.
This case is being prosecuted by Eric S. Aboulafia of the Homicide Bureau, with investigative assistance from Detectives Peter Barba, Guido Cirenza, and T. Michael Palumbo of the Suffolk County Police Department’s Homicide Squad.