A former police officer in New Jersey is accused of stabbing to death his longtime friend at the man's home on Sunday.
Bergen County prosecutors say Scott Smith, 33, formerly an officer with the Hasbrouck Heights Police Department, was socializing at the Wood-Bridge home of John Amendola late Saturday overnight into Sunday.
At some point, an argument broke out between the two, who have known each other for nearly 20 years, prosecutors said. The argument may have stemmed from a business they worked on together.
The argument apparently got so heated Smith pulled out a knife and repeatedly stabbed Amendola and left him to die.
Police said no one else was there at the time.
"When we began to question everyone, we were very quickly led to Mr. Smith," said the prosecutor.
"When you stab someone so many times, and you inflict the type of injuries on Mr. Amendola, this is not simply a mutual fight," he said. "This is something that is rather serious."
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Smith is charged with first-degree murder, among other charges. A judge has set bail at $2 million and Smith is due in court on Thursday.
Bergen County prosecutors did not immediately say whether Smith has an attorney. When reached at his home by NBC New York, Smith's father would not comment.
