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Redinel Dervishaj, Suspect In Murder Of S.I. Groom-To-Be, Arrested In Illinois

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The suspect in the stabbing death of a Staten Island man who was out celebrating his engagement was arrested Tuesday before a line of mourners paid respect to the victim at a nighttime wake.

Redinel Dervishaj, 35, is believed to be the who allegedly plunged a butcher knife into 27-year-old Anthony Lacertosa around 2 a.m. Saturday outside the Espana Restaurant in Annadale.

The brawl, over alleged drunkenness,  involved Lacertosa and friends on one side, and the manager on the other. Witnesses  told police that Dervishaj is a friend of the manager.

CBS 2's Pablo Guzman spoke with brother-in-law Jamie Caruvanna about the arrest.

"It's not going to bring him back. It's, it's not even comforting that they caught him yet, that they caught him now. We're not even at that point," Caruvanna said.

1010 WINS' Juliet Papa reported Dervishaj was arrested around 12:30 p.m. at an aunt's home in Palos Hills, Ill., a suburb southwest of Chicago.

"I am eternally grateful for the police department for having caught this man, and making today just a little more bearable," Lacertosa's mother, Linda, told reporters.

1010 WINS' Juliet Papa With More Details On The Arrest

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A task force comprised of the NYPD's Fugitive Squad, Staten Island Homicide, 123rd Precinct detectives, U.S. Marshals, the Cook County Sheriff's office and the Palos Hills police department were involved in the arrest, Papa reported.

Redinel Dervishaj
Redinel Dervishaj (credit: U.S. Marshals)

Dervishaj spent over three years in a New York prison for a wild 2007 shootout on a Queens street with two other Albanian figures.

He was convicted after being shot by a man who told police he threatened to rape his wife if he did not come up with $20,000.

Lacertosa's family says putting Dervishaz behind bars again is no real comfort.

"We will never get him back. My daughters will never see their uncle again," Caruvanna said.

The suspect's older brother, Plaurent Dervishaj, is apparently an Albanian mob figure targeted by the Feds, Guzman reported. He is apparently wanted in Albania for the murders of at least four organized crime rivals.

Family members say Lacertosa's half brother and fiancée, Bridgette Schneider, tried to save his life by performing CPR but it was too late.

Lacertosa was pronounced dead at Staten Island University Hospital.

"There's too many things. Too many things. Too many nice things. I don't think you'll ever meet someone that met him that didn't like him," said Caruvanna.

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