A 23-year-old CVS employee was stabbed to death on Long Island while working on Christmas Day.
Suffolk County officers were called to the Lindenhurst store at 20 East Montauk Highway shortly before 7 p.m. on Thursday.
“When officers arrived, they found a man, who was an employee of the store, with a stab wound to his chest,” police said in a statement on Friday.
The victim, identified as West Babylon resident Edeedson Cine, was pronounced dead after being transported to Good Samaritan University Hospital in West Islip.
The suspect had already fled the scene on foot before cops arrived. Suffolk County homicide investigators are still searching for the white male, who appeared to be in his 40s, and are asking the public for information that might point them to the culprit.
It’s unclear what led to the deadly confrontation or if the victim knew his killer. The Suffolk County Police Department couldn’t immediately be reached for comment.
Police officials said witnesses and surveillance video from outside the store have led them to a person of interest and that, based on who he is, they believe he was in the CVS for “nefarious reasons,” reported ABC 7 New York.
The store remained closed on Friday as detectives continued their investigation. Cops were seen scouring the neighborhood, including sewer grates, for a weapon or any other evidence connected to the crime.
CVS thanked police for their quick response in a statement addressing the incident.
“We’re devastated over the tragic stabbing that occurred inside our East Montauk Highway store on Christmas night. Edeedson Cine was a valued member of the store team, known for his strong work ethic,” a company spokesperson said in an email. “During his 10 months with CVS, he was a hard-working and dedicated employee and his loss will be felt by all of us.”
They added that counseling and support services were being offered to all store colleagues.
The CVS where the fatal stabbing occurred is located roughly 40 miles east of Grand Central Terminal, near Jones Beach Island.
