A door-to-door Verizon salesman was found guilty on Wednesday of stabbing a man to death in New Jersey.
Michael Tsamas, 35, was convicted of first-degree manslaughter in the death of 44-year-old Joseph Delgardio in Jackson Township on May 26, 2022, the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office announced.
Tsamas had been in the town advertising Verizon products after the telecom giant contracted with a third-party company. He knocked on Delgardio’s door, Delgardio turned him down, and then Tsamas walked away, according to police.
But shortly afterward, Delgardio tracked down Tsamas and confronted him, investigators said. Video showed Delgardio grabbing Tsamas by the collar and pushing him toward the sidewalk.
Tsamas then reached into his pocket, grabbed a knife and stabbed Delgardio in the neck, cops said.
Officers responded to a 911 call about Delgardio lying in the street in a pool of blood. He was pronounced dead at the scene, where Tsamas was arrested without incident.
At trial, Tsamas argued that he feared for his life and was simply acting in self-defense, according to NJ.com. However, the jury did not agree.
In addition to manslaughter, Tsamas was convicted of five weapons offenses. He faces a maximum of 30 years in prison. A sentencing hearing was scheduled for May 30.
