A St. John’s University lacrosse player from Melville has been convicted of stabbing a teammate in 2019.
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said Saturday that Matthew Stockfeder, 23, was convicted of first-degree assault.
In 2019, an argument between Stockfeder and Justin Corpolongo escalated to physical violence leading to the defendant pulling out a knife and stabbing the then-23-year-old victim.
Queens Supreme Court Justice Stephen Knopf, who presided at the three-week trial, set sentencing for April 7. Stockfeder faces up to 25 years in prison.
According to trial testimony, on Oct. 22, 2019, the victim was trying to sleep in the home he shared with Stockfeder and other members of the lacrosse team. The then-23-year-old victim complained about noise from a party because he had to work early the next day. Even after agreeing to relocate the party, the defendant was angry about being relocated from his own home.
According to trial records, the two men argued back and forth over a group text message. After being called a loser by the defendant, the victim went to the new party-site to confront Stockfeder. The two men exchanged words and the defendant appeared to take a stance and raise his arms as if he might strike his housemate. That’s when the victim reacted and punched Stockfeder, who fell to the ground. Other students grabbed the victim and that’s when the defendant stood up, pulled out a knife and stabbed the victim twice in his stomach.
The victim was rushed to a nearby hospital where he underwent life-saving emergency surgery to repair a laceration to his small intestine.
Katz said, “The victim in this case was nearly eviscerated by the defendant after an argument escalated to a physical altercation. As others broke up the fight, the defendant pulled out a kitchen knife and plunged it twice into his teammate’s abdomen. After listening to the evidence, a jury rendered a guilty verdict.”
At Walt Whitman High School, Stockfeder was a three-year starter and two-year captain in midfield. He was a Long Island Newsday Top 100 Lacrosse Players in 2016. He was All County and All league in 2015 & 2016. Matt also played basketball for 4 years,” a bio from St. John’s says.