The Long Island man accused of fatally stabbing a New Jersey high schooler in the heart outside an ax-throwing bar in Lower Manhattan was set to be released from Rikers Island Wednesday.
Gianluca Bordone, 19 — who was busted Thursday in the slaying of 17-year-old Rocco Rodden — posted a $1 million bond secured by bail bondsman to the stars Ira Judelson, sources said.
Bordone faces manslaughter and assault charges over the deadly fight that took place around 1:50 a.m. on Thanksgiving in front of the Live Axe at 96 Lafayette Street in Chinatown.
He allegedly stabbed Rodden — a high school junior and football player — and slashed the boy’s 19-year-old brother during a confrontation outside the bar, where all three were attending a private party, police and prosecutors said.
The brothers were taken to Bellevue Hospital, where Rodden died from a six-inch stab wound that pierced the left ventricle of his heart around 8:45 a.m., authorities said.
Bordone was arraigned in Manhattan Criminal Court on Sunday wearing a black sweatshirt with the word “courage” emblazoned on the back.
The Oyster Bay resident initially fled in a cab, but was nabbed by police based on eye witnesses’ descriptions and his vest, which was still coated in blood.
He appeared not to have known that Rodden had died, and mouthed “oh my God” when the prosecutor told the judge of the teen’s passing.
The judge at his arraignment initially set bail at $4 million cash, $12 million bond — prompting the teen to turn to his well-dressed family sitting in the gallery, with his mouth agape.
Rodden was a junior at Saint Joseph’s Regional High School in Montvale, NJ, where he played on the football team.
“I just hope that justice is served,” Rodden’s father, Douglas Rodden, told the New York Daily News on Saturday.
“You know, we live in a free country, and people should really learn to love and respect one another. There’s no reason for people to stab people. … But no justice is going to bring back the life of a child of Rocco’s character.”
Rodden — who was set to be lain to rest Thursday morning — was remembered by family and friends as a “beacon of positivity” with a “magnetic personality” that made him a force on the football field, in the classroom and at the car-detailing business he ran, his obituary read.
“Yesterday I had to plan a funeral and pick a coffin and a mausoleum for my son. I would not wish that upon anybody,” Douglas told The News.
The heartbroken father spoke to his son just a few hours before his death, and cautioned him to be on alert during his night out with his older brother and sister, he told the newspaper.
“He was just a force to be reckoned (with). In the locker room before games, he was a motivating person. He had dreams, he had a path … Very mature, very independent person. He was a man at 15 years old,” Douglas said of his son, who he described as “outgoing, handsome, funny.”
Rodden’s brother, Anthony, required 50 stitches for his own injury, he added.
The fight outside the bar allegedly started when Rodden was punched in the face, according to his dad.
“The family is broken, inside and out. He was a true warrior and he died defending one of his friends,” he said to ABC7.
Rodden’s best friend, Vin Ferrera, penned a moving tribute to the teen on Instagram.
“I cant believe your [sic] gone, you were more then [sic] a brother to me and was Family since day one,” the caption read, alongside a carousel of pictures and videos of the two friends over the years.
“Not one day will pass bye where I won’t think of all the memories we made. One day in another life we can look back at all of our good times together.
“Every time My Way would come on the speakers you would talk about how that is the song you want at your funeral, We just never thought it would be this soon.”
In lieu of flowers, Rodden’s family requested mourners donate to a memorial scholarship fund at St. Joseph’s.