Ex-St. John's Lacrosse Player Convicted Of Stabbing Teammate: DA

QUEENS, NY — A former co-captain of the St. John's University men's lacrosse team was convicted on Friday of stabbing his ex-teammate following an argument over loud noise from a party, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced.

Matthew Stockfeder, 23, of Melville, was convicted of first-degree assault. He faces up to 25 years in prison.

An argument between Stockfeder and Justin Corpolongo, who were teammates, escalated to physical violence on the night of Oct. 23, 2019. Stockfeder pulled out a knife and stabbed the then-23-year-old Corpolongo, the DA's Office said.

"The victim in this case was nearly eviscerated by the defendant after an argument escalated to a physical altercation," Katz stated. "As others broke up the fight, the defendant pulled out a kitchen knife and plunged it twice into his teammate’s abdomen. After listening to the evidence, a jury rendered a guilty verdict.”

Stockfeder was also found guilty of fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon following a three-week jury trial.

Corpolongo was trying to sleep in the home he shared with Stockfeder and other members of the lacrosse team, Katz said. Corpolongo complained about noise from an ongoing party and explained he had to work early the next day. Even after agreeing to relocate the party, Stockfeder was angry about being relocated from his own home, prosecutors said.

The two men argued back and forth over a group text message, where Stockfeder called Corpolongo a "loser," trial records showed. Corpolongo went to the site of the new party to confront Stockfeder, and the two began arguing, officials said. Stockfeder took a stance and raised his arms as if he might hit Corpolongo, who punched Stockfeder, knocking him to the ground, Katz said.

Other students grabbed Corpolongo, and that's when Stockfeder stood up, pulled out a knife, and stabbed Corpolongo twice in his stomach, prosecutors said.

Corpolongo told the court his blood shot up to the ceiling when he was stabbed, and a friend put his hand on his stomach and tried to keep his blood inside him, The New York Post reported. Corpolongo told the jury he later saw a purple fist-sized growth protruding from his stomach.

Corpolongo was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he underwent life-saving emergency
surgery to repair a cut to his small intestine, Katz said.

Corpolongo graduated in 2018 and works as a teacher, according to The New York Post.