HUNTINGTON STATION, N.Y. (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) – A Long Island man on Tuesday pleaded guilty to manslaughter for the 2023 stabbing death of his friend and attempted murder of the victim's wife when she tried to intervene.
According to the investigation, on Feb. 16, 2023, Candelario Cordova, 54, and Roque Cisneros, 58, who were friends and co-workers, were both sitting in Cordova's SUV that was parked in front of Cisneros' Huntington Station home.
Cisneros' wife, who was looking out of her kitchen window, saw Cordova seated in the driver's seat and trying to get Cisneros out of the vehicle.
Cordova then suddenly drove away with Cisneros still in the SUV, so Cisneros' wife jumped into her car and followed them, prosecutors said.
According to officials, Cordova stopped his SUV around the corner on Oakwood Road, jumped out, opened the trunk, and retrieved a long knife.
He then opened the passenger side of the SUV and began stabbing Cisneros repeatedly in the neck and body, Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney said.
Cisneros' wife attempted to stop the attack by grabbing Cordova, who then began slashing and stabbing her.
Several passing motorists stopped and intervened, ultimately subduing Cordova until police arrived.
Officials were able to recover the knife used during the attack at the scene.
Cisneros was pronounced dead at the scene. His wife was transported to Huntington Hospital where she was treated for her stab wounds.
On Tuesday, Cordova pleaded guilty to manslaughter and attempted murder.
Cordova is due back in court for sentencing on June 20, where he is expected to receive 30 years in prison.
"Unfortunately, in addition to witnessing the trauma of her husband being stabbed to death by the defendant, the victim's wife also endured her own horrific injuries during the defendant's attack," DA Tierney said. "I hope that the defendant's plea today brings some measure of closure and relief to the victim's wife and family."
