Christmas morning for Edeedson Cine was exactly what it should have been: enjoying quality family time and exchanging gifts at a Long Island home. His father, Edeedson Cine Sr., who told the New York Post how his son– “who would step in front of a bullet for anyone”– spent that morning washing dishes and eating breakfast with his three siblings before covering his co-worker’s CVS Pharmacy shift at the last minute. But he never made it home.
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Around 6:50 p.m. on Christmas Day, while many families were sitting down enjoying dinner and celebrating, the Suffolk County Police Department responded to a call of a stabbing at a Lindenhurst CVS store. Police found Cine on the floor, suffering from a single stab wound to his chest, Long Island News 12 reported.
He was rushed to a West Islip hospital where he was pronounced dead within one hour of the senseless attack. Now, authorities have a suspect in custody, who they claimed confessed to the stabbing.
Prosecutors alleged John Pilaccio, 43, entered the store Thursday and attacked Cine, the outlet reported. His suspected motive? Money. He allegedly admitted to authorities that he was in debt. The suspect entered the CVS and allegedly demanded money from Cine, who was working behind the counter. Cine refused before he was stabbed.
Pilaccio was arrested without incident when authorities arrived at his Palm Street home in Lindenhurst. On Friday, he was charged with second-degree murder, according to local news station ABC 7. His attorney entered a not guilty plea and he’s being held without bail. His next court date is Wednesday.
Cine’s father told the New York Post how his late-son “was always willing to help. If he can make things better for you, he will.” He added how his family is “very close. We do a lot together. He was loved and he loved also.”
Cine Sr. recalled how his son said, “‘I’ll wash the dishes before I go to work,’ which stays with me because it’s just something we needed someone to do. And then he kissed me and left… He left for work and he unfortunately didn’t make it home.”
His family created a GoFundMe to raise money to “honor Eddy’s memory and to support his family during this time of profound grief,” as “every donation is an act of love and compassion, helping to lift a family in sorrow and reminding them they are not alone.”
The GoFundMe, which has raised nearly $93,000 as of this writing, wrote how Cine “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.”
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