Hunt Continues For Staten Island Groom-To-Be's Killer
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The hunt continues for the killer of a Staten Island man who was stabbed to death just after his engagement party over the weekend.
Police said 27-year-old Anthony Lacertosa was stabbed outside the Espana Restaurant in Annadale around 2 a.m. Saturday after a night of engagement celebrations.
Witnesses said the trouble started with some sort of dispute.
Moe Elgaly, owner of nearby M&M Bagel Shop, saw Lacertosa just minutes before his death.
Elgaly said the victim was eating an ice cream and having a good time before a fight broke out.
"We're used to fights, but nothing like this," Elgaly said. "It was chaos."
Lacertosa apparently ran outside and then somebody pulled a knife.
"It was a butcher's knife," Elgaly said. "I was told they put it on the side of the kid and they raised it up. He got cut pretty deep. That's when he fell to the ground and everybody just started kicking him."
Family members say Lacertosa's half brother and fiancée, Bridgette Schneider, tried to save his life by performing CPR but it was too late.
Lacertosa was pronounced dead at Staten Island University Hospital.
Police won't confirm witness accounts that it was an employee from the restaurant who pulled the knife but detectives did find the bloodied murder weapon in a dumpster not far from the scene, CBS 2's Jessica Schneider.
Lacertosa leaves behind seven siblings, and the love of his life, who are now planning a funeral instead of a wedding.
Police have not named any suspects or made any arrests in the case.
