BETHPAGE, NY – The fragrant aroma of homemade Italian food was shattered Thursday morning when a horrific crime plunged a beloved Long Island deli into darkness, leaving a tight-knit community reeling.
At the heart of the tragedy, authorities say, is 30-year-old Vito Dambrosio, who now faces charges of first-degree murder after his parents were found stabbed inside A&A Italian Deli and Pizza, the family’s pride for over three decades. Before the sun had fully risen, police say the family’s legacy became the backdrop for bloodshed on Hicksville Road in Bethpage.
Police reports reveal that Vito allegedly erupted into violence following a dispute with his parents, 62-year-old Angela Pulisciano and 70-year-old Antonio Dambrosio, as the couple prepared for another morning serving loyal customers. Investigators say Angela died at the scene, while her husband succumbed to fatal injuries at a nearby hospital.
Alarming calls began streaming into local police precincts just before 9 a.m., as witnesses reported a man covered in blood loitering outside the deli. Officers arrived to find Vito standing outside, hands and clothes marked with the aftermath of the attack, according to law enforcement. He was swiftly detained before officers entered the business and discovered the two victims behind the store counter.
Investigators detailed that both Angela and Antonio suffered fatal knife wounds to the throat, and believe Vito stabbed his mother before turning on his father. The morning’s violence briefly spilled into a nearby coffee shop, where police allege Vito slapped an employee on the backside before returning to the deli, further disturbing the morning routine of the area.
Neighbors and customers quickly gathered outside the shuttered storefront as word spread. Many struggled to comprehend the loss of the couple they described as warm, generous, and central to the community. One lifelong customer, stunned by the tragedy, recounted his shock after seeing Vito leave the shop. The long-time patron was stunned when Vito reportedly confessed his actions directly.
For years, Angela and Antonio had been known throughout Bethpage not only for hearty sandwiches and rich espressos but also for their unwavering kindness. Residents recall countless times when the couple would offer meals without hesitation to those unable to pay. “They made you feel like family,” said one mourner outside the deli, echoing sentiments that spread quickly through the neighborhood.
The investigation remains ongoing, but authorities noted that Vito was already estranged from the family. He had been involved in prior domestic incidents and had a protective order issued against him the previous fall after a conflict with a sibling.
Police say the deadly confrontation took place in one of the store’s back rooms, out of view from early morning customers. Witnesses described seeing Vito sitting in the parking lot, seemingly calm, while awaiting arrest. It was only after officers handcuffed him that the full scene’s grim reality set in for onlookers.
Messages of remembrance poured in as the community mobilized to support the victims’ surviving relatives. An online fundraiser described Tony and Angela as immigrants who poured their hearts into every detail of their shop, treating every customer as family, and never letting a language barrier get in the way of their generosity.
Vito Dambrosio, having received medical attention in custody, was arraigned virtually from his hospital bed and pleaded not guilty to the charges. He is being held without bail as the legal process unfolds.
As the police investigation continues, Bethpage residents mourn both the crushing loss and the abrupt end to a story of immigrant success built over decades, leaving a void that no meal or memory can soon fill.