NYC man suspected of stabbing ex-girlfriend’s male buddy to death caught casually eating pizza: sources

A Staten Island man with more than two dozen previous arrests was busted in the fatal stabbing of his ex-girlfriend’s male buddy – and surrendered to cops who cornered him as he chowed down on pizza, cops and sources said Tuesday. 

Jonathan Griffin, 40, was dining al fresco at the Pier 76 pizzeria near the Staten Island ferry terminal Monday evening when police spotted him and started questioning him about the July 2 murder of Kycell Terry, 25, inside his 28-year-old ex’s Port Richmond apartment, law enforcement sources said. 

Griffin – who has about 25 previous arrests dating back to 2002, cops said – quickly told cops he was the person they were looking for and put his hands behind his back, according to the sources.

Jonathan Griffin, 40, was charged with second-degree murder in the July 2 fatal stabbing of his ex-girlfriend’s pal Kycell Terry, 25, authorities and sources said.

He was charged with second-degree murder, first-degree manslaughter, tampering with physical evidence, criminal contempt and other offenses, according to a criminal complaint.

Griffin allegedly stabbed Terry multiple times in the stomach with a “sharp instrument” between 3 and 4 a.m. inside the first-floor apartment on Ann Street near Park Avenue, the court doc said.

He was there in violation of an order of protection, issued on Dec. 12, according to prosecutors. 

Before the murder, Griffin, his ex and Terry were drinking together, the sources said. 

Griffin, his ex and Terry were drinking together before the murder, sources said. Kyle Mazza / Shutterstock

The woman then fell asleep until around 7 a.m., when she found Terry stabbed in the stomach and unconscious – with Griffin nowhere to be found, according to the sources. 

She then ran to a neighboring apartment, where the resident called 911, the sources said. 

Terry was pronounced dead at the scene by EMS workers, police said. 

Griffin, who is also accused of “tampering” with the murder weapon, was ordered held without bail during his Tuesday arraignment. 

Griffin was also arrested Monday for allegedly damaging property in a Castleton Avenue deli during a violent 9 p.m. June 20 rampage, which was reported by a worker, cops said.

His previous arrests include a 2012 bust for possession of a loaded gun in East Harlem, authorities said.