17-Year-Old Rocco Rodden Fatally Stabbed Outside New York City Club on Thanksgiving

A 19-year-old has been arrested after a 17-year-old student from New Jersey was fatally stabbed outside a nightclub in New York City on Thanksgiving morning. The victim, identified as Rocco Rodden, was a talented football player at St. Joseph’s Regional High School in Montvale, New Jersey. Friends and family described him as a rising star with a bright future, but his life was tragically cut short during a confrontation with another teenager.

Rocco’s father, Douglas Rodden, expressed his deep grief, stating that it is heartbreaking for parents to bury their children, and such a loss is completely unacceptable. The incident occurred in the early hours of Thanksgiving and left Rocco’s close-knit family devastated.

According to officials, Rocco was at a club in Lower Manhattan with his brother and sister when multiple fights broke out among teenagers. Rocco and his brother were both stabbed, with Rocco suffering a fatal wound to the torso. Despite efforts to save him, he passed away a few hours later. His brother survived the attack but required 50 stitches.

Douglas Rodden spoke of his son’s bravery, stating that Rocco died while defending one of his friends. Police have arrested a 19-year-old suspect, identified as Gianluca Bordone from Oyster Bay, New York, who now faces murder charges.

Rocco was a junior at St. Joseph’s Regional High School, where he played on the offensive line for the football team. The school’s principal sent a heartfelt message to families, offering condolences and emphasizing the need to find comfort in each other as they remember and celebrate Rocco’s life.

The tragic incident has left the community in shock and mourning the loss of a young man described as a true warrior, the light in the darkest room, and the life of the party. As the legal process unfolds, Rocco’s loved ones and the community at large will continue to grapple with the devastating loss of a promising young life.