Slain LI Man's Family Hopes Suspect Is 'Held Accountable To Fullest Extent Of The Law'

YAPHANK, NY — A suspect wanted in the slaying of Alex Smith in Mastic Beach last month has been taken into custody in Florida, Suffolk police said.

Joseph Scalafani, 32, was taken into custody by the Pinellas County Sheriff's office at 7 a.m. on Sunday, according to police. He was seen by a 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 placed under arrest, police said.

Scalafani had been wanted on a warrant for murder, however, it was not immediately clear if there are additional charges pending.

A spokesperson from the Pinellas County Sheriff’s office was not immediately available for comment.

Police named Scalafani a suspect in the fatal shooting of Smith, the younger brother of former WBO champ, Joseph Smith Jr., on May 26.

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

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 family regarded Scalafani 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.

Smith leaves behind four children ranging from 9 months to 9 years old.

In a statement to Patch on Sunday morning, the Smith family thanked the law enforcement agencies involved in apprehending Scalafani.

“It does not fill the void in our hearts as we miss him every minute of the day, but it does give us some peace knowing he can not do this to another family,” they said. “We have faith in the justice system and hope that he will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”

“Alex is never coming back but we see him every day in his children and for that we are grateful. He will forever remain in our hearts,” the statement concluded.

A mugshot of Scalafani was released to help homicide detectives in their investigation, along with a reminder that operators of the Crime Stoppers line were taking tips on his whereabouts.

Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards for tips that aid in arrests in criminal cases.

A warrant was issued for Scalafani, who has been known to frequent Mastic, Mastic Beach, and Shirley, police said.

Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison told News 12 was with Scalafani's ex-girlfriend at the time of the shooting.

"They actually have two children in common, so this looks like this might have been a crime of hate and jealousy because it seems like it was old baby father shooting new boyfriend in a really disturbing, concerning crime," Harrison told the outlet.

The gun used in the shooting has not been found and investigators consider Scalafani armed and dangerous, according to the outlet.

A Suffolk Sheriff’s office spokeswoman said Scalafani was charged with criminal contempt and second-degree menacing on May 16.

The details of that arrest were not available from any of Suffolk's law enforcement agencies.

His bail information could not be verified.

Scalafani will return to Suffolk pending an extradition hearing, according to police.

A police spokeswoman could not say when Scalafani is expected to appear in court in New York due to the pending outcome of his extradition hearing in Florida.

It was not immediately clear if Scalafani has legal representation.