Long Island Murder Suspect Fighting Florida Extradition: Court

CLEARWATER, FL — A Long Islander accused of gunning down a father of four last month did not waive his extradition from Florida, meaning a warrant will be required from Gov. Kathy Hochul's office to transport him to New York, a Florida 6th Judicial Circuit spokesman said Tuesday.

Joseph Scalafani, 32, of Mastic Beach did not waive his right to extradition at a hearing last week, setting off a procedural chain of events that would require a governor's warrant within the next 30 days, 6th Judicial District Court Stephen Thompson said.

Suffolk police on May 26 named Scalafani a suspect in the fatal shooting of Alex Smith, the younger brother of former WBO champ, Joseph Smith Jr, and he was arrested in St. Pete on June 4.

He is being held without bond at the Pinellas County Jail "until he is picked up by the appropriate authorities," Thompson said.

Scalafani could also obtain a 60-day extension under Florida law.

He is "in the beginning stages" of the extradition process, "which is going to take some time" of being extradited from Florida," a spokeswoman for Suffolk District Attorney Ray Tierney's office said.

The office declined to comment on the extradition.

It is not clear if Scalafani has legal representation.

In the weeks since the death of Smith, who leaves behind four children ranging from nine months to nine years old, a makeshift wooden memorial has been fashioned at the spot where he died. It features a large photo surrounded by space for well-wishers to leave notes and share memories of him in magic marker.

It is decorated with a bouquet of sunflowers and surrounded by Roman Catholic votive candles dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Smith's step-mother, Tracy, called Scalafani's decision to fight extradition "a disgrace" and said she could not understand the reason behind it, adding, "It's shameful."

Scalafani shot Smith in the parking lot outside of Linsa Torr's Place on Neighborhood Road in Mastic Beach at around 2 a.m. on May 20, police said.

Commissioner Rodney Harrison reportedly said Smith was with Scalafani's ex-girlfriend at the time and speculated jealousy as the reason behind the shooting.

A Suffolk Sheriff’s office spokeswoman said Scalafani was charged with criminal contempt and second-degree menacing May 16 — just four days before the shooting.

The details of that arrest were not available from any of Suffolk's law enforcement agencies and his bail information could not be verified.

Smith's parents previously told Patch that he and Scalafani grew up together, and even trained as kids at the same boxing gym in Shirley, and then as an adult, Scalafani was in Smith's older brother's wedding party.

The Smith family regarded him as a member of the family, with the two parents still referring him to as "Joey" in an interview. The two lamented how the children of both men will be affected by the allegations in the long term.

Scalafani was apprehended in Florida on an arrest warrant for murder that was issued in connection with the slaying of Smith, police said.

He was first seen by a Pinellas County Sheriff's deputy boarding a bus, which was pulled over in a traffic stop on Gulf Boulevard in St. Pete, the location of a public beach, and then was placed under arrest, according to police.

Tracy's sentiment has not been overshadowed by the larger issue at hand.

"I just can't believe Alex is gone," she said.