Bronx man receives 20-year sentence for fatal stabbing at gowanus club
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Bronx Man Receives 20-Year Sentence for Fatal Stabbing at Gowanus Club

December 4, 2024

Brooklyn, NY – A Bronx resident has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for the fatal stabbing of one bouncer and injuring another outside a club in Gowanus. The announcement was made by Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, following the defendant’s guilty plea to manslaughter in October.

The defendant, identified as 22-year-old Jose Velasco from the Morrisania area of the Bronx, received his sentence under Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun. Alongside the prison term, Velasco faces five years of post-release supervision for the crime that took place on February 26, 2022, at approximately 10:35 p.m.

According to the case details, Velasco was removed from a party at 168 7th Street in Gowanus for aggressive behavior. He then engaged in a confrontation with three bouncers, leading to an altercation in which Velasco stabbed a 21-year-old bouncer in the back and 25-year-old Marvin Pretto in the chest, who later died at Brooklyn Methodist Hospital.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Joseph Mancino.

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Chris Quigley is a Staff Writer and Community News Correspondent for Shore News Network, where she covers local government, public safety, community affairs, politics, and issues impacting residents throughout New Jersey. Her reporting focuses on delivering timely, accurate, and relevant news that helps readers stay informed about the communities in which they live and work.

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Through her work at Shore News Network, Chris Quigley contributes to the organization's mission of providing trusted local news coverage, accountability reporting, and community-focused journalism throughout New Jersey.

Chris Quigley is a graduate of Stockton State University and began her career at IN Jersey, the online news and media branch of the Asbury Park Press. She also worked at Monmouth Internet, the Ocean Signal Newspaper, and JTOWN Magazine during her career in both content management and operations.

Degrees: Business B.A. - Stockton University

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