Crime & Safety

2nd UPDATE: 3 Shot in Huntington Station

Police suspect gang rivalry behind violence.

Three men were  shot in Huntington Station Sunday afternoon and another person was injured in a collision with a police car responding to the shootings.

said the three victims, Darius Howard, 16, Devon White, 18, and Philip Perez, 22, were sitting in a car at the Lincoln Farms Apartments about 3:15 p.m. when a large group of men surrounded the vehicle, two of whom shot into the car. The violence is believed to be gang related, police said.

Howard, of Greenlawn, sustained a gunshot wound to the left arm and a grazing wound to his head. White, who lives in the apartment building, was shot in the groin. Perez, of  Huntington Station, was shot in the arm, armpit and hand.

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The three victims were taken by ambulance to Huntington Hospital. 

The investigation is continuing. Detectives are asking anyone with information on this incident to contact the Second Squad at 631-854-8252 or call anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS. All calls will remain confidential.

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Several neighbors said there had been repeated shootings at the building, which formerly housed the Lincoln Elementary School.

Lydia Galloza, who has owned her home across from the apartment building for six years, listed a series of shootings, which she said began Aug. 17. She said she had several relatives living in the Lincoln Apartment building and knew one of the shooting victims.

“It’s gotten dangerous to live there,” she said, but added that complaints to one of the owners had not been addressed. “I want to live in peace, like everybody,” she said. “I don’t want to live where I have to duck because I’m worried about my safety.” 

She said shootings had occurred on Aug. 17, Sept. 24, twice on Oct. 6, Oct. 10 and again on Nov. 20. Others milling about at the shooting scene described numerous break-ins in the neighborhood and demanded police action and the installation of technology, which was just recently launched in Huntington Station.

When it was implemented less than two weeks ago, it was not known the precise placement of the devices that help spot the location of gunshots.

At least one police helicopter was seen overhead and a canine unit was reportedly being brought in to track down the shooters.

While numerous police vehicles and officers were busy at the scene, a block north at Pulaski Road and First Avenue, other officers were securing the site of the crash between a police car and another vehicle.

A man who lives near the intersection said the police car was southbound on First Avenue when it collided with a 2007 Chevy sedan traveling west on Pulaski. He said the female driver was thrown out of her seat onto the floor of her car.

Police said the officer involved in the accident was treated for injuries and released by Huntington Hospital. The woman, who is 82, was being treated for her injuries.

Patch will update this story as we receive more information.


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