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Disabled Man Dies After Fight With Roommate on Staten Island

By DNAinfo Staff on April 10, 2012 1:21pm

A 45-year-old man died after fighting with his roommate at a halfway house at 339 Harbor Rd. on Staten Island on April 10, 2012.
A 45-year-old man died after fighting with his roommate at a halfway house at 339 Harbor Rd. on Staten Island on April 10, 2012.
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DNA/Nick Rizzi

By Nicholas Rizzi and Wil Cruz

DNAinfo Staff

STATEN ISLAND — A 45-year-old man died Tuesday after fighting over food with his roommate at a halfway house for the disabled in Mariners Harbor, police sources said.

The quarrel between John Parisi, a resident at Volunteers America on Harbor Road, near Forest Avenue, and his 37-year-old roommate erupted Tuesday morning, sources and Parisi's brother said.

The fight escalated and Parisi — who suffers from muscular dystrophy, according to his brother — fell, striking his head on a table, sources said.

"During the fight he either got hit or pushed," said the brother, who asked not be identified.

By the time cops and paramedics arrived about 8 a.m., Parisi was unconscious and critically injured, sources said. He was rushed to Richmond University Medical Center, where he later died, sources and FDNY officials said.

The roommate, who was not identified, was taken into custody and is being interviewed by detectives, sources said. He has not been charged.

Parisi's brother said his family, though broken up about the death, could not be angry at the man with whom his brother fought.

"It's a sad occurrence," the brother said at the scene.

"He's most likely not going to know what he did," he added, referring to the roommate.

Parisi loved the Yankees and professional wrestling, his brother said.

"He was easy-going," the brother said. "He was an all-around good guy."

Representatives for Volunteer America, could not immediately be reached for comment.