An Atlantic City resident admitted to chasing down and fatally stabbing a Queens man following a fight outside a New Jersey hotel, officials announced Thursday.
Julio Vazquez-Dones pleaded guilty on Wednesday to first-degree aggravated manslaughter as part of a deal that will see him spend less time behind bars for the killing of 31-year-old Jewel Lonon, of Rosedale, according to the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office.
Vazquez-Dones, 38, was initially charged with first-degree murder and multiple weapons offenses.
The deadly confrontation unfolded July 8, 2023 outside the Red Carpet Inn on Pacific Ave., just blocks away from Steel Pier in Atlantic City. Prosecutors said Vazquez-Dones was caught on surveillance video chasing Lonon into the parking lot while wielding a golf club and a knife.
Police found Lonon outside the hotel around 5 a.m. suffering multiple stab wounds. He later died from his injuries.
After reviewing the hotel’s footage, authorities detained multiple people for questioning, including Vazquez-Dones. He was subsequently arrested and confessed to stabbing Lonon during the altercation. He also admitted to authorities that he discarded his weapon and his clothes, prosecutors said.
Vazquez-Dones’ attorney, Lauren Musarra, said he was scared in the time leading up to the stabbing and felt he was defending his family, BreakingAC reported.
His wife and sister claimed Lonon banged on the window of Carmine’s — a restaurant owned by Vazquez-Dones’ in-laws and where he worked as waiter — to the point of shattering the glass. They said Lonon assaulted Vazquez-Dones prior to the fatal attack.
Musarra added that her client never intended to kill Lonon and believed he was armed with a gun, a claim questioned by prosecutors and the judge.
Vazquez-Dones is due to be sentenced on March 12, 2025.
Per his plea agreement, he’ll receive 25 years behind bars with the possibility of parole. Had he been found guilty of first-degree murder, he’d be facing 30 years to life in prison.
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