Even though the show is called Mob Wives, the reality television angle of the popular series sometimes causes American viewers to forget that these women are in fact connected with a world of violence.

After all, the Italia mafia is something that is often associated with images of bullet-riddled bodies and persons who “sleep with the fishes”.

Perhaps this chilling reality didn’t hit close enough to home until the news that a bar owned by a cast member was the scene of a tragic murder over the weekend.

Police are currently seeking two suspects in the Sunday morning murder of Abdou Cisse. The 46-year-old was killed outside the Drunken Monkey bar in Staten Island, New York.

Abdou Cisse tried to help calm things at a bar in Staten Island. He died on the sidewalk. #DrunkenMonkey @ABC7NY pic.twitter.com/cMaOi7Vgqt

— Lucy Yang (@LucyYang7) June 9, 2014

According to New York Police Department spokesman Sergeant Lee Jones, he died after a blow to the face caused him to hit his head on the pavement, resulting in his death.

It was reported that Cisse, a regular at the Drunken Monkey, was trying to break up a fight when he was killed.

Aside from confirmation that police were still seeking two men involved in the victim’s death, Jones was not forthcoming with any additional information about the case.

Man found beaten to death outside NYC bar that appears on "Mob Wives" http://t.co/0YlNJM6EhM pic.twitter.com/hvQwEPuU4P

— NBC New York (@NBCNewYork) June 9, 2014

The bar is owned by Mob Wives star Angela “Big Ang” Raiola and is frequently featured on the show.

As such, it’s not surprising to learn that “Big Ang” was familiar with the deceased victim.

“My heart is broken by the tragic and senseless loss,” Raiola tweeted, “[Cisse] was not just a customer, but a gentle giant that I loved.”

Man found dead near bar from TV's 'Mob Wives' http://t.co/B4m0VIuk4T pic.twitter.com/B1VTpyPCwA

— 10 News (@WTSP10News) June 8, 2014

The VH1 reality TV show made “Big Ang” a star and no doubt inspired her book Bigger is Better: Real Life Wisdom from the No-Drama Mama.

The VH1 reality television show Mob Wives follows the lives of women connected to members of organized crime. These women are either married to or the daughters of men who have been sent to prison for crimes tied to the mafia.

Image via YouTube