Scalafani Apprehended in Florida, Accused in Death of Mastic Man

On the lam since May 20 after his alleged shooting of a father of four, Joseph Scalafani was taken into custody in Florida on Sunday. He was wanted in the shooting death of Alex Smith on Neighborhood Road in Mastic Beach.

According to Suffolk Police, Scalafani, 32, of Mastic Beach was apprehended by Pinellas County Sheriffs after he was seen boarding a bus near St. Pete Beach. The department had put out a nationwide bulletin for his arrest. He is expected to return to New York after an extradition process.

Smith, 30, of Mastic, worked in his family’s tree business and had children ages nine months to nine years old. The younger brother of former WBO champ, Joseph Smith Jr., he was dating Scalafani’s ex girlfriend, with whom the suspect had two children, according to Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison. "It 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 said in a media interview.

Scalafani was considered by police to be armed and dangerous.

File Photo

“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,” the Smith family said in a published statement. “We have faith in the justice system and hope that he will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law,” the statement said, adding, “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.”