‘We want justice for Anthony’
Stabbing victim’s friends, area pols demand shutdown of Bay Ridge bar
BY JESSICA PARKS
Friends and family of
22-year-old Anthony D’Onofrio,
who was fatally stabbed outside
of the notorious Catrina’s Bar
and Grill, are pushing for the
Bay Ridge bar’s closure.
“We want justice for Anthony,
his family and friends,
and the community at large,”
his friend wrote in an online
petition on Change.org. “We
are calling on law enforcement
and elected offi cials to look
into Catrinas and take action!”
Offi cers from the 68th Precinct
responded to 911 calls
of an ongoing assault at 7316
Third Ave. in Bay Ridge on
the early morning of Jan. 29
to fi nd two victims suffering
from stab wounds — one of
them was D’Onofrio, who was
stabbed in the chest.
EMS transported both victims
to NYU-Langone Hospital
Brooklyn in Sunset Park,
where doctors pronounced
D’Onofrio deceased. The second
victim remains in stable
condition following a stab
wound to his head.
The NYPD’s investigation
later revealed the two victims
were involved in a large dispute
with someone else at the bar.
While the alleged stabber
was not immediately apprehended
COURIER L 6 IFE, FEBRUARY 4-10, 2022
because he fl ed from
the scene before the NYPD’s
arrival, the 19-year-old was
arrested the following day on
charges of murder and criminal
possession of a weapon.
D’Onofrio’s friends
launched their online petition
on Jan. 31 to demand area
elected representatives request
the closure of Catrina’s
and to the State Liquor Authority
to revoke their license,
arguing the watering hole
has a long history of violence
— and have already received
over 2,700 signatures in their
fi rst three days.
“This senseless act of violence
is a part of a well-documented
and dangerous pattern
of illegal and reckless
behavior inside and outside
this establishment over the
years,” the petition states. “It
is clear that the owners of Catrina’s
have no intention of following
the law, no regard for
the neighborhood in which
they operate, and even less
regard for keeping their own
customers safe.”
Councilmember Justin
Brannan, who represents Bay
Ridge, Dyker Heights and Bensonhurst,
penned a letter with
state Sen Andrew Gounardes,
who represents a large swath
of southern Brooklyn, to the
State Liquor Authority asking
they revoke the bar’s liquor license
citing a rampant neglect
of the laws and supervision of
the illicit activities going on
inside and outside of their establishment.
“Since early 2021, we’ve
written to the SLA about various
concerns regarding this
establishment,” Brannan and
Gounardes wrote. “We have
repeatedly raised examples
of underage drinking, illegal
drug use and drug sales, noise
complaints, alleged sexual assaults
and other violent incidents
taking place inside and
directly outside the premises.”
The Jan. 31 letter further
states that the State Liquor
Authority has handed down
several violations to the restaurant
in the last 18 months,
including six charges issued
last March for failing to supervise
and failing to comply, for
which fi nes were due Feb. 1.
Both the online petition
and the elected’ letter question
why the 19-year-old defendant
was at the bar in the
fi rst place, as he is unde legal
drinking age.
The defendant is represented
by Legal Aid and is
scheduled to next appear in
court on Feb. 4.
Catrina’s Bar and Grill and
the State Liquor Authority did
not respond to requests for
comment by press time.
An early morning brawl at Catrinas in Bay Ridge turned fatal Jan. 29.
Photo by Paul DeLuca
FRESH MEAT SPECIALS
All
1/2 Gallon
Milk
Tuscan
$249
Each
Eggland Best
Large
Organic
Eggs
Gift Cards
Available
St. Louis
Pork Ribs
$499
Lb.
$599
WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO LIMIT QUANTITIES. NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR TYPOGRAPHICICAL ERRORS. PICTURES ARE FOR DISPLAY PURPOSES ONLY AND MAY NOT DEPICT ACTUAL ITEMS
Specials begin Friday, February 4th th
DELI SPECIALS COOKED FOOD SPECIALS
Landi’s
Homemade
Roasted
Chicken
Classic
or
BBQ
$699
Each
Now
Featuring:
Kansas City
Style
Pork Chops
& Prime
Dry Aged
Steaks
Fresh!
Pork
Tenderloin
$399
Lb.
Our Homemade
Corned
Beef
$ 1499
Lb.
Our Homemade
Eye Round
Roast Beef
$ 1299
Lb.
U.S.D.A. Choice
Pepper
Steak
$699
Lb.
Fresh Roasted
Turkey
Breast
$ 999
Lb.
Bell & Evans
Chicken
Breast
with Bone
$ 349
Lb.
Stuffed
Eggplant
with Ricotta &
Mozzarella
$ 949
Each
U.S.D.A. Choice
Top Round
London
Broil
$699
Lb.
Chicken
Cutlet
Parmigiano
$ 949
Each
Penne
with Vodka Sauce
$899
Each
Sweet Sausage
in Tomato
Sauce
$ 949
Each
Boar’s Head
Provolone
Cheese
$ 799
Lb.
Pork
Patties
with Cheese &
Parsley
$599
Lb.
/Change.org