Love Triangle Turns Fatal on Upper East Side

An apartment building doorman was stabbed outside the East 80th Street building where he worked. Police believe that 30-year-old Pasquale Esposito (pictured), was the unlucky third in a love triangle and arrested 22-year-old Steven Figueroa for the murder. Figueroa, who worked as a doorman nearby, and his girlfriend had broken up briefly, and the woman went out with Esposito during that time.

Witnesses saw Figueroa and his girlfriend arguing with Esposito on the street around 8:30PM Saturday night. Figueroa had confronted Esposito, and the woman yelled at Esposito to go back to his job. Then Figueroa apparently plunged a large, serrated knife into Esposito's back. The couple left, leaving Esposito to walk back to the East Winds building at 345 East 80th and collapse inside. Figueroa, a 22-year-old former SUNY Albany student, surrendered himself in yesterday morning. A police source told the Daily News, "This wasn't a real 'whodunit," and said Figueroa's emotions got "the best of him."

Residents were shocked at the crime, many were crying and noting that Esposito, who was also known by his middle name, Arthur, was "amazing" and hardworking. One told the Times, "There are some people, very few people, who have a sunshine disposition. That's Arthur." His parents are upset and angry. His mother said he was about to graduate from John Jay College is June, "He was my world, my child who I kissed every morning."