The victim, identified as 17-year-old Rocco Rodden, was pronounced dead at the hospital after sustaining multiple stab wounds. The suspect, Gianluca Bordone, faces manslaughter and assault charges.
According to police reports, the altercation occurred around 1:50 a.m. on Thanksgiving morning in front of an axe-throwing bar in Chinatown. Officers responding to a 911 call discovered Rodden and his 19-year-old brother with stab wounds to their torsos.
While Rodden succumbed to his injuries, his brother was hospitalized in stable condition.
The incident reportedly unfolded following a night of drinking at the establishment. Prosecutors allege that Bordone stabbed Rodden in the chest during a heated confrontation and then slashed his older brother across the torso.
However, Bordone's lawyer maintains that the circumstances surrounding the incident are far more complex than portrayed by the prosecution.
"What was not discussed is the chaos and mayhem that surrounded this entire incident, including what my client was subjected to — which again, not on surveillance video, not discussed by prosecutors — where he was pummeled repeatedly," Bordone's attorney, Warren Quaid, stated.
The tragic loss of Rodden has sent shockwaves through the St. Joseph Regional High School community, where he was a beloved student and athlete. The school mourned his passing through a heartfelt message on Facebook, expressing their condolences to the Rodden family and emphasizing the unity of the school community during this difficult time.
"We're just in a state of shock," St. Joseph Athletic Director Reggie Sainte Rose told nj.com. "We had the boys together this morning, the football team, for a prayer service and time to reflect and get together and stay strong for each other. Prayers just go out to the family right now. It's a tough time."
Comments
Post a Comment