CVS Employee Killed During Robbery Attempt
An ex-convict, struggling to make ends meet, has been charged with the murder of a CVS employee in Long Island during a botched robbery on Christmas Day. The suspect, 43-year-old John Piraccio, allegedly attacked 23-year-old Edison Cine, reportedly motivated by financial desperation, as he was $25,000 in debt.
According to prosecutors, Piraccio confronted Cine after he refused to give him money, leading to a violent altercation in which Cine was stabbed in the chest and then slashed in the head after Piraccio jumped over the counter.
Suffolk County Assistant District Attorney Eric Aboulafia remarked on the brutality of the crime, emphasizing that Piraccio’s financial troubles played a key role in his actions. “The motive was simply money,” he stated, underscoring the devastating circumstances surrounding the event.
Piraccio, who has a lengthy criminal record—including five felony arrests—served nine years for a prior armed robbery that involved violence. Surveillance footage captured him entering the store shortly before 7 p.m. that evening, where he picked up a bottle of Gatorade and then brandished a knife.
The attack left Cine in critical condition; after being rushed to a hospital, he was pronounced dead shortly afterward. Relatives shared that he had taken the Christmas shift hoping to be with his family during the evening.
Following the attack, police were able to locate Piraccio at his home in Lindenhurst, where he reportedly acknowledged being at the CVS when shown the surveillance video.
In a rare move, Piraccio was charged with first-degree murder instead of the more common second-degree murder. Suffolk County Attorney Ray Tierney indicated that the serious nature of the circumstances warranted this charge, which typically applies in cases involving police officers or particularly egregious acts.
Reflecting on the justice system, Tierney expressed frustration over Piraccio’s earlier release on parole in 2015, questioning the effectiveness of current laws. Meanwhile, a lawyer representing the Cine family criticized CVS for its delayed release of the security footage to law enforcement, highlighting concerns about employee safety at the store.
A CVS spokesperson conveyed the company’s sorrow over the tragedy and maintained that they had cooperated with law enforcement regarding the video footage, stating it was provided promptly after the incident.
