Nassau County police say a 30-year-old suspect was taken into custody after the morning attack at A & A Italian Deli & Pizza.
BETHPAGE, NY — A man and woman who ran a longtime neighborhood deli were stabbed to death Thursday morning inside their business on Hicksville Road, and their adult son was taken into custody at the scene, Nassau County police said.
Authorities said the double killing unfolded just after 9 a.m. at A & A Italian Deli & Pizza, a fixture in this Nassau County community for decades. Homicide detectives are leading the investigation. Police described the victims as a woman in her early 60s and a man around 70. A 30-year-old suspect, identified by police as their son, was arrested without incident. Officials did not immediately release names or announce charges. The case jolted the Bethpage area, where customers and employees from nearby shops gathered behind police tape as news spread that the couple who owned the deli had been attacked.
Police said a 911 call came in shortly after 9 a.m., prompting a rapid response to 4240 Hicksville Road. Officers found both victims with stab wounds inside the store. The woman was pronounced dead at the scene; the man was taken to a nearby hospital, where he died a short time later, according to police. A witness who frequents the deli, 97-year-old Joe Boros, said he saw one of the couple’s sons leave the back of the store and claim responsibility. “I just saw the son walking out and he said, ‘I just stabbed my parents,’ and that was it,” Boros said. Another customer, Brandon James, said the suspect “didn’t run, didn’t put up a fight,” and appeared to have blood on his hands when officers turned him around. Police did not confirm the account but said the suspect was detained at the scene without resistance.
Detectives said the Homicide Squad is interviewing witnesses and reviewing surveillance footage from businesses along the busy stretch near Boundary Avenue. Investigators are also working with the county medical examiner to determine the precise causes and manner of death. As the day went on, uniformed officers and crime scene technicians moved in and out of the deli, which remained cordoned off with yellow tape. Police said the suspect’s relationship to the victims is part of the working theory, but they have not discussed a possible motive. Officials said they were not seeking additional suspects and that there was no ongoing threat to the public.
Customers and neighbors described the deli as a family-run operation that had served the area for more than 30 years. Many said the couple were known by name and often remembered orders from memory. “They were just hard-working people, a staple in this neighborhood for so long,” said customer Diane Elder. Others spoke through tears, recalling holiday platters and quick chats over the counter. Several regulars said the couple’s adult children sometimes helped at the shop, but they had never witnessed arguments or trouble inside. “It’s crazy to believe they’re not here anymore,” Elder said. Throughout the afternoon, mourners left flowers against the storefront window while officers guarded the entrance.
Police emphasized that the investigation is in its early stages. Detectives are tracing the hours leading up to the attack, including who was in the deli before the first 911 call and whether any prior disputes were reported. Officials have not released the victims’ names pending family notifications, and they declined to say whether the suspect made any statements after being detained. The department said any charging decisions would follow consultations with the Nassau County district attorney. If charges are filed, an arraignment would be expected in county court, where a judge could consider bail or remand and issue any protective orders for surviving relatives or witnesses.
By midafternoon, traffic was diverted around the deli as vehicles from the Crime Scene Unit parked along Hicksville Road. Employees from neighboring shops watched as evidence markers were placed near the counter area. A few longtime customers ventured close to the tape to ask officers whether the shop might reopen, only to learn that it would remain closed while detectives processed the interior. “They were good people,” said a man who gave his name as George. “You’d go in there for a sandwich and end up talking with them for 10 minutes. It’s such a shame.” Residents said the corner has seen little serious crime in recent years and that the deli was a reliable stop for morning coffee and lunch specials.
As of Thursday evening, police had not announced charges or publicly identified the victims or the suspect. Detectives said updates would be provided after next-of-kin notifications and preliminary autopsy results. The Homicide Squad remained on scene into the night, and the deli was expected to stay closed while evidence collection continues.
Author note: Last updated December 4, 2025.