Comment of the Day: "Or how about we learn to not ... violently stab people that are courageous enough to do the right thing?"

Michael Lansu — Thu, 05 Feb 2015 16:43:04 -0600

Prosecutors claim Aaron Rutigliano fatally stabbed Antonio Gamboa Feb. 1 after Gamboa attempted to break up a fight at a Super Bowl party between Rutigliano and his girlfriend. Reader Maxine Kao posted this about the attack:

Or how about we learn to not beat our girlfriends and violently stab people that are courageous enough to do the right thing? Antonio Gamboa is a hero and I know his story will not deter me from stepping in if I witness the same thing. If we fail to protect those that cannot protect themselves because we are afraid, then we are failing ourselves and humanity.

Aaron Rutigliano charged with murder in Super Bowl party stabbing death of local musician Antonio Gamboa

Michael Lansu — Tue, 03 Feb 2015 15:03:16 -0600

Antonio Gamoba / Photo from GoFundMe.com

BY RUMMANA HUSSAIN
Chicago Sun-Times

A local personal trainer allegedly stabbed a musician to death and injured two women at a Super Bowl party because they tried to help the girlfriend he roughed up during the festivities on the Near South Side.

Aaron Rutigliano shoved Antonio Gamboa up against the wall in the apartment in the 2300 block of South Michigan Avenue and stabbed him over a dozen times Sunday night, Assistant State’s Attorney Jaimie Santini said.

Gamboa and other partygoers had tried to come to the aide of Rutigliano’s girlfriend after Rutigliano grabbed the woman's arm, neck and hair before shoving her to the ground, Santini said.

The girlfriend screamed for help as Rutigliano stood over her, Santini said.

Rutigliano first stabbed the women who tried to help, slashing them with a knife he had hidden in his pocket, Santini said.

One woman was wounded in the wrist and the other was struck in her side.

When Gamboa tried to stop the altercation, Rutigliano allegedly stabbed him five times in the chest, twice in the neck, four times in the back and twice in the left eye.

Another partygoer tried to subdue the 29-year-old Rutigliano, but he kept fighting back and threatened the rest of the guests by telling them, “I’m going to kill you all,” prosecutors said.

That partygoer and another man were eventually able to stab Rutigliano inside the apartment, Santini said.

Rutigliano, originally from Lagrangeville, N.Y., was held down by some guests before the police arrived.

Rutigliano did not appear in bond court Tuesday because he was recuperating from his wounds at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.

Judge Donald Panarese Jr. ordered Rutigliano held in lieu of $1 million bond on murder and aggravated battery charges.

Rutigliano is a personal trainer at an XSport gym and is a door host at Ala Carte Entertainment, his LinkedIn Page said.

Gamboa was in the local band Sarin, according to a GoFundMe page set up to pay for his funeral expenses.

Gamboa was remembered by friends as the “life of the party” who always made everyone smile and laugh.

“If you knew Tony, you knew he was a tender loving butterfly. Tony would always put others before himself.... He passed away a hero,” the GoFundMe page said.

“He helped anyone who needed a hand even if they were complete strangers and that cost him his life.”

-- Contributing: Michael Lansu

Aaron Rutigliano | Homicide Watch Chicago

Comment of the Day: "Or how about we learn to not ... violently stab people that are courageous enough to do the right thing?"

Aaron Rutigliano charged with murder in Super Bowl party stabbing death of local musician Antonio Gamboa