A routine night at Louie’s Pizzeria on Baxter Avenue in Elmhurst turned chaotic on April 1 when a man suddenly pulled out a box cutter inside the shop. Owner Louie Suljovic did not hesitate, throwing himself at the suspect and pinning him to the floor until officers arrived. His split-second move kept roughly 15 diners out of harm’s way, leaving the storefront with shattered glass but no serious injuries. The suspect was taken into custody and now faces charges in Queens criminal court.
According to PIX11, police identified the suspect as Jose Guadfebles, who allegedly threatened a 41-year-old worker with a box cutter before crashing into the restaurant’s glass door and breaking it. Suljovic told the outlet that he and his staff jumped on the man to subdue him while stunned customers looked on. Police arrested Guadfebles on charges of criminal mischief and menacing, and an arraignment is pending, the station reported.
Police Processing And Where The Case Goes Next
The NYPD’s 110th Precinct, which covers Elmhurst and surrounding neighborhoods, handled the incident. Officers processed the suspect and turned the case over to Queens prosecutors. Police did not immediately release further details about a possible motive or whether additional charges could be added. For contact information and background on the precinct, see the NYPD’s 110th Precinct.
Suljovic’s Track Record In The Neighborhood
Suljovic is no stranger to stepping in when things turn violent. In 2022, he and his father were seriously wounded after intervening to stop a street robbery, an episode that sparked an outpouring of community support and fundraising. Coverage at the time by FOX 5 New York highlighted how the Suljovic family has long been a fixture on Baxter Avenue.
Neighbors Hail A Local Hero
In the latest scare, customers and neighbors quickly labeled Suljovic’s move as nothing short of brave. A frequent patron called the pizzeria owner “a hero” to the community, according to PIX11. Suljovic even joked that he calmed the suspect down with a slice of pizza after the struggle, a small detail that underscored how quickly the chaos passed and how fortunate it was that no one suffered major injuries…