A man stabbed to death outside a Brooklyn bar mourned the local pizzeria; police arrest suspect

A man who was stabbed to death outside a Brooklyn bar was remembered on Tuesday as a good-natured employee who worked seven days a week to fill gaps at a local pizzeria.

“Never late, never had a problem with him,” the victim’s boss, Nessim Sahalon, said, adding that he is “known to be a very customer-friendly person. He always wanted to be useful to people.”

Sahalon, 30, was killed on Jan. 10 when he got into an argument with Ancel Piano, 34, at a barbershop on Flatbush Avenue near O Avenue in Marine Park around 8:15 p.m., police and sources said.

The altercation spilled out onto the street and in front of the nearby Kaché Restaurant and Lounge, police said.

According to police, Payano pulled out a knife and plunged it into Sahalon’s chest.

Sources said that after the stabbing, the assailant fled to nearby Quinton Street, where he threw the knife into a planter on the sidewalk.

Sakhalon worked as a manager at Benny’s Brick Oven Pizza in Midwood for about two years.

“After all the post-COVID stuff, it was hard to find workers, so he pretty much worked for me seven days a week for a long time,” said his boss, who asked not to be named. “That’s how devoted he was. Never took a vacation. He was really dedicated.”

When Sakhalon was only five minutes late for work the day after he was killed, the man knew something was wrong.

“I immediately called and wrote to him, but he did not pick up the phone,” he said. “Then I asked around and people told me.

“I was in some kind of shock,” he added. “I didn’t really believe it.

The owner of the pizzeria told the Daily News that his employees mourn the “super friendly” and “sociable” man.

“It really affected the group of guys,” he said. “I would say that half of the staff… they are in shock. It definitely made an impact.”

Piano turned himself in to police on Tuesday and was charged with murder and criminal possession of a weapon, police said.

Boss Sakhalon struggled to come to terms with the violent nature of his death.

“For as long as I knew him, he wasn’t like that,” he said. “He came on time every day. He gets up very early, around 7:30, 8, to be here on time. He wasn’t the kind of guy who hangs out a lot.”

Sahalon lived in Mapleton, where his family was still observing the Jewish mourning practice of Shiva on Tuesday..

“I am very busy with my family, today I brought them lunch at Shiva’s house,” the boss said. “At first it was very difficult, I was in shock.

Piano had three previous non-violent arrests in the city, including for drunk driving and possession of marijuana, police said.

Piano’s indictment in Brooklyn Criminal Court was expected Tuesday afternoon.