John Pilaccio, Lindenhurst, Long Island, N.Y man confesses to stabbing CVS worker, after Edeedson Cine refusing to hand over money to ‘debt’ strapped customer. Victim’s West Babylon family reflect on victim’s last hours Christmas Day and how ‘eager he was to please,’ after accepting last minute shift to work at the Long Island outlet.
The father of a 23 year old CVS worker stabbed to death at the hands of a deranged customer in Long Island, N.Y, has told of his son’s final moments before ‘eagerly’ accepting a last minute call to fill in a sudden role at his place of work on Christmas Day. Just hours later, the ‘enthusiastic’ employee would be dead.
Victim’s father reflects on CVS worker’s final hours during Christmas morning
Edeedson Cine according to his father spent Christmas morning giving presents to his parents and three siblings along with washing the family’s breakfast dishes before going to work to cover for a last-minute shift at the Lindenhurst, Long Island outlet.
Cine, 23, also going by Eddy ‘Joshy’ Cine Jr., wasn’t supposed to work the holiday but the West Babylon youth had stepped in to cover for one of his coworkers, the grieving father told the nypost.
‘My son normally helps out,’ Edeedson Cine, Sr. told the outlet.
‘He was the kind of person who would step in front of a bullet for anyone. He would volunteer for the tough assignments. He was simple, and I loved that about my son.
‘He was always willing to help. If he can make things better for you, he will.’
‘We have a very tight family. We are very close. We do a lot together. He was loved and he loved also,’ Cine Sr. said.
‘He 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.’
Debt ridden Lindenhurst, NY man had demanded money from CVS employee
Cine was nearing the end of the Christmas Day shift when 43-year-old John Pilaccio of Lindenhurst allegedly stabbed him in the chest, while the 23-year-old worked in the pharmacy section of the store.
The young employee, who had been working at the Lindenhurst store for 10 months, was rushed to Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center in West Islip, where he was declared dead.
Pilaccio fled, but was arrested Friday and charged with second-degree murder.
Appearing in court on Saturday, Pilaccio remained silent as prosecutors accused him of killing the young CVS employee.
Prosecutors say Pilaccio demanded money and initiated the attack when the victim refused, News12 reported.
They say Pilaccio voluntarily went with law enforcement who arrived at his Palm Street home in Lindenhurst. Cops say the man confessed to killing Cine and revealed he was motivated by money due to his debts.
The man accused of fatally stabbing a Lindenhurst CVS employee was arraigned Saturday morning on murder charges.
Prosecutors say John Pilaccio, 43, entered the store just before 7 p.m. Thursday and attacked 23-year-old Edeedson Cine.
Prosecutors say Pilaccio demanded money and… pic.twitter.com/4oEhdC4sSL
— Crime In NYC (@Crime_In_NYC) December 27, 2025
Motivated by nefarious reasons as GoFundme fundraiser for victim launched
‘Based on the person of interest and his background, I can only assume he was in the store for nefarious reasons, and it’s possible their confrontation was a result of that,’ Suffolk County Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina said at a Friday news conference.
Pilaccio’s defense entered a not guilty plea. He is being held without bail and is due back in court on Wednesday, according to authorities.
A GoFundme fundraiser on behalf of the victim’s family had raised over $37,700 of a $60K target.
