The proposal follows a Christmas Day stabbing that police and prosecutors say unfolded inside a Lindenhurst pharmacy.
LINDENHURST, NY — A Suffolk County lawmaker has proposed requiring businesses to give police surveillance footage within 24 hours of a felony, months after a CVS employee was fatally stabbed during a Christmas Day robbery attempt.
The county proposal is the latest response to the death of Edeedson “Joshy” Cine Jr., 23, who was killed while working at the CVS on East Montauk Highway and Wellwood Avenue in Lindenhurst. Legislator Jason Richberg, a West Babylon Democrat, is sponsoring the local measure as investigators, prosecutors and state lawmakers continue to focus on how quickly private businesses should share video after violent crimes.
Police said officers were called to the store at about 6:50 p.m. Dec. 25 after a stabbing was reported. They found Cine with a chest wound, and he was taken to Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center in West Islip, where he was pronounced dead. Prosecutors later said John Pilaccio, 43, of Lindenhurst, entered the store, demanded money and attacked Cine after the employee refused. Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said at Pilaccio’s arraignment that Cine was “doing all the right things, working hard” when he was killed.
The proposed Suffolk County law would require businesses to provide relevant surveillance video to police within 24 hours of a felony incident or face fines. Richberg said law enforcement officials told him faster access could make a major difference in the first hours of an investigation. He said some officers raised the idea of a shorter deadline, including three hours, but the current proposal sets a 24-hour limit. The bill follows claims by law enforcement officials and Cine’s family that investigators did not receive all requested CVS footage as quickly as they wanted. CVS has said it cooperated with police and provided access to video from the store.
State lawmakers have also pushed a separate measure named the Edeedson “Joshy” Cine Jr. Transparency Act. That bill would require businesses with surveillance footage tied to an ongoing felony investigation on their premises to release it to law enforcement after receiving a formal written request. The state proposal includes exceptions and penalties, and it would amend New York business law. Assemblymember Kwani O’Pharrow sponsored the state measure after the Lindenhurst killing, saying the goal is to avoid delays when video may help police identify a suspect, track a fleeing person or preserve evidence before it is lost.
Pilaccio was indicted in January on one count of first-degree murder, two counts of second-degree murder, two counts of first-degree attempted robbery, two counts of second-degree attempted robbery, third-degree criminal possession of a weapon and tampering with physical evidence. Prosecutors said store video showed Pilaccio stabbing Cine in the chest, jumping the counter and stabbing him again. They said Pilaccio fled the store and later made statements to police after investigators showed him surveillance footage. Pilaccio pleaded not guilty, and a judge ordered him held without bail.
Cine’s family has said he was not originally scheduled to work on Christmas and had spent the morning with relatives before taking the shift. His father, Edeedson Cine Sr., described him as helpful and selfless. Relatives and friends said Cine had worked at the store for about 10 months and was known for stepping in when others needed help. CVS issued a statement after the killing saying the company was heartbroken and called Cine a dedicated colleague. The company said it was supporting employees and cooperating with law enforcement.
The stabbing drew attention beyond Lindenhurst because it joined two issues that often collide after violent crimes: the need for quick evidence and the control private companies have over their own security systems. Police departments often rely on store cameras, doorbell cameras and nearby business footage to identify suspects and build timelines. Businesses may also seek legal review before releasing recordings, especially when the video includes customers, employees or areas outside the crime scene. The Suffolk proposal would set a local rule for serious cases, while the state bill would create a broader requirement across New York.
The local measure has not yet become law. County lawmakers are expected to review the proposal and decide whether to change the deadline, fines or exceptions before any vote. The state bill remains under review in Albany. In Pilaccio’s criminal case, prosecutors are continuing under the indictment, and the next steps are expected to include court conferences, evidence review and possible motion practice before any trial date is set. If convicted of first-degree murder, Pilaccio could face life in prison without parole.
Outside the Lindenhurst CVS, the case remains tied to the holiday shift Cine took and the minutes investigators say were captured on store cameras. Family members have said they want the laws changed so another investigation is not slowed by a fight over footage. Richberg said the county proposal is meant to make the rule clear for businesses and police before the next major case begins.
The surveillance footage proposal is pending in Suffolk County as the state transparency bill remains under review and Pilaccio’s murder case continues in court. The next public milestone will depend on legislative scheduling and the criminal court calendar.
Author note: Last updated May 10, 2026.