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Husband Fatally Stabbed, Wife Wounded in Staten Home Invasion

By Nicholas Rizzi | September 1, 2014 1:05pm | Updated on September 2, 2014 7:41am
  Peter Gialluisi, 67, was fatally stabbed inside his Venus Place home on Sunday, police said.
Staten Island Home Home Invasion Killing
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WOODROW — A man was fatally stabbed and his wife injured after returning home from celebrating their birthdays Sunday night to find an intruder inside, police and neighbors said.

The suspect broke into the couple's Venus Place home and encountered them shortly after 9 p.m., the NYPD said. He then stabbed the pair with an unknown object and fled, police said.

Peter Gialluisi, 67, was killed from stab wounds to the face and hand, while his 66-year-old wife was stabbed in the head, back and neck during the incident, police said.

Dante Viggiano, 20, was arrested the next day and charged with murder, attempted murder, burglary, criminal possession of a weapon, criminal mischief and false personation, according to police.

The couple had just come home from celebrating their birthdays — one on Monday and the other on Tuesday — at their son's home in New Jersey when they found the suspect inside, said a neighbor and family friend. 

"I can't believe it,"  said John La Gotta, 56, adding they were "gentle and kind" people.

After they were stabbed, Gialluisi's wife made it to a next-door neighbor's, who called 911 and tried to give Gialluisi aid, La Gotta said.

Gialluisi was taken to Staten Island University Hospital South, where he was pronounced dead, police said. His wife was transported to Staten Island University North, where she's listed in stable condition, police said.

Another neighbor, who lived across the street from the couple for nine years, said it was generally a peaceful area and the Gialluisis were great neighbors.

"They were wonderful people," said Peter Pati. "[They're] very good people. I was so shocked."

La Gotta said Gialluisi had health issues and required a walker to get around, and that his wife had always taken care of him and helped him around the home.