Jonathan Griffin was arrested after police found him eating pizza near the Staten Island ferry terminal in connection with a July 2 fatal stabbing in Port Richmond.
Jonathan Griffin, a Staten Island pizza arrest case that drew immediate attention, ended Monday evening when police found the 40-year-old eating outside a pizzeria near the Staten Island ferry terminal and questioned him about a July 2 killing in Port Richmond. Authorities say Griffin quickly admitted he was the man they were looking for and surrendered on the spot.
Police and court records say Griffin is accused of fatally stabbing Kycell Terry, 25, inside his ex-girlfriend’s first-floor apartment on Ann Street near Park Avenue in the early hours of July 2. He was charged with second-degree murder, first-degree manslaughter, tampering with physical evidence, criminal contempt and other offenses. Prosecutors say Griffin was inside the apartment in violation of an order of protection issued on Dec. 12.
According to the complaint, Griffin allegedly used a sharp instrument to stab Terry multiple times in the stomach between 3 and 4 a.m. Before the killing, Griffin, his ex-girlfriend and Terry had been drinking together, sources said. The woman later fell asleep and woke around 7 a.m. to find Terry unconscious and stabbed. Griffin was gone by then, and she ran to a neighboring apartment, where a resident called 911.
“Jonathan Griffin was arrested after police found him eating pizza near the Staten Island ferry terminal in connection with a July 2 fatal stabbing in Port Richmond.”
Emergency workers pronounced Terry dead at the scene, police said. Griffin was ordered held without bail at his Tuesday arraignment. Authorities also accused him of tampering with the murder weapon.
The arrest came after a search that began with the July 2 death and ended in a public setting just blocks from one of Staten Island’s busiest transit points. The image of a murder suspect being approached while dining outdoors underscored how routine police work can quickly close in on a suspect, even in a crowded city neighborhood. For residents, it also put another spotlight on domestic-related violence and the role of protection orders in trying to keep people safe.
Prosecutors and police also said Griffin was arrested Monday in a separate incident tied to an alleged property-damage rampage at a Castleton Avenue deli on June 20, when a worker reported violence inside the store. His criminal history stretches back years, with authorities saying he has about 25 previous arrests dating to 2002, including a 2012 arrest in East Harlem for possession of a loaded gun. The case now moves forward in Staten Island court, where Griffin faces the murder charge and other allegations that could carry serious consequences. The takeaway: a fatal stabbing case that began in a Port Richmond apartment is now headed into the courts, with a repeat arrestee facing the most serious charge of all.
Frequently asked questions
Who was arrested in the Staten Island case?
Police arrested Jonathan Griffin, 40, after finding him at a pizzeria near the Staten Island ferry terminal and questioning him about the killing.
Who was the victim in the stabbing case?
The victim was Kycell Terry, 25, who was found stabbed in an apartment in Port Richmond and pronounced dead at the scene.
What charges does Griffin face?
He was charged with second-degree murder, first-degree manslaughter, tampering with physical evidence, criminal contempt and other offenses.
What happened before the killing, according to the case details?
Sources said Griffin, his ex-girlfriend and Terry had been drinking together before the woman fell asleep and later discovered Terry injured.
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