Warren Teen Dies In Thanksgiving Day Stabbing In NYC: Police

WARREN, NJ — A 17-year-old football player from Warren Township was fatally stabbed Thanksgiving morning outside an ax-throwing establishment in Manhattan, according to police and reports.

New York City police identified Rocco Rodden as the victim of a fatal stabbing at 96 Lafayette St. in Tribeca. Police responded to the area shortly before 2 a.m. and found Rodden and a second 19-year-old victim suffering from stab wounds.

Rodden was taken to Bellevue Hospital, where he died, police said.

The second victim was also taken to Bellevue, where police said he was in stable condition.

Later Thursday, police arrested 19-year-old Gianluca Bordone of Oyster Bay, New York, in connection with the stabbings. Authorities charged him with manslaughter and assault, police said.

St. Joseph Regional High School in Montvale confirmed Rodden was a student in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.

"It is with deep sadness and heavy hearts that we share the heartbreaking news of the passing of one of our own, Rocco Rodden," the school posted. "Rocco, a junior at SJR, left us in the early hours of Thanksgiving morning. Our thoughts and prayers are with Rocco's family and friends."

In a letter to the community obtained by the Bergen Record, school officials said grief counselors would be available to students starting Monday.

"We hope that this gathering will provide an opportunity for our community to come together, lean on one another, and find comfort in shared memories of Rocco," the letter said.

In an Instagram post, former St. Joe’s quarterback Luke Henrich said Rodden could “light up a room” with his personality.

"To one of my closest friends, took you under my wing from the start. Nobody on earth that could light up a room and bring the energy you brought everywhere you went," Henrich's post read. "You were one of a kind, and there will always only be one 'Cug.'"

Meanwhile, former St. Joseph football coach Dan Marangi told the Bergen Record he was "at a loss for words" following Rodden's death.

"Just last week he and I were cracking jokes, talking about the off-season and next season," he told the publication. "Rocco came to us after his freshman year and was immediately welcomed not only by the football team, but by the larger school community. That shows the type of young man that he was. He was loved and loved by everyone."