BRIGANTINE, N.J. -- The man accused of killing a Jersey Shore candy store owner appeared in court Monday.

Video: Candy Store Owner Reportedly Defending Girlfriend
Steve Pusey, owner of Steve's Candy Shop in Brigantine, was stabbed four times Friday.

Authorities said Pusey, 54, was killed trying to protect his girlfriend from her former boyfriend, Anthony Giampapa, 44.

Prosecutors said that during an argument inside the shop, Giampapa pulled a knife on his ex-girlfriend, Maria Cinolauro, Pusey's current girlfriend. They said Pusey was attacked after he intervened and tried to subdue the suspect.

Cinolauro fled into the street and police arrested Giampapa at the scene. He suffered a self-inflicted knife wound to the neck. Pusey later died in a hospital.

A longtime friend of Giampapa said the allegations seem completely out of character.

"That's not the Tony we know. I'm having a tough time believing that he would go in there and put a knife on Maria because I think he loved her," said Kathleen Heath.

Prosecutors would not comment on what Cinolauro and Giampapa were initially arguing about. Giampapa is being held on $850,000 bail.

Outside the closed store on Monday, people who knew the victim opened up about the man they said was as sweet as the candy he sold.

"A wonderful, wonderful, guy. A close, close friend. It's a horrible thing, horrible, horrible thing," said Frank Redmiles, a friend of Pusey.