Riverhead Man Dies in Fatal Stabbing

By Debbie Tuma

A fight that broke out in the parking lot of the Hampton Bays Diner turned fatal last Sunday morning at 4:00 a.m., when a group of young men caused the stabbing death of Calvin Butts, 26, of Riverhead.

Maria Vlahadamis, who owns the diner with her husband Frank, said he was working there when he heard a commotion outside, and went out to find about two dozen young men surrounding another man, who had been stabbed.

"It was very dark out, and hard to see what happened, but he called the police, and they came over here with several cars and took at least three of the young men away with them," said Vlahadamis. "They also closed down our diner from about 4:00 a.m. until noon."

Vlahadamis said the fight apparently started at the White House (former CPI) night club in Hampton Bays, and continued at the diner. Butts was taken by ambulance to Peconic Bay Medical Center, where he died.

"This is the first time we have had an incident of this extent, in our 25 years of operation here," she said. "We feel terrible-you would never expect this to happen on a Memorial Day Weekend."

Police are asking anyone with any information to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS or Homicide Squad at 631-852-6392.