Suffolk Police Step It Up After 3 Huntington Station Shootings In 4 Days
/By Jano Tantongco
jtantongco@longislandergroup.com
Pictured is 62 10th Avenue in Huntington Station where police responded to a ShotSpotter Activation at around 1:30 a.m. on Tuesday. Five men standing outside reported seeing flashes of light and hearing shots, but did not see anyone shooting. Police recovered spent bullet casings at the scene.
Suffolk police are stepping up patrols following a string of three shootings within four days in Huntington Station.
Second Precinct Detective Sergeant James Scimone said Wednesday that the Second Precinct Detective Squad is working in tandem with Suffolk County’s Firearm Suppression Team.
“The Firearm Suppression Team was sent up into Huntington,” said Scimone, noting that officers of the Second Precinct met with FAST members Wednesday. “We’ll probably meet on a daily basis until we can resolve some of the issues.”
As for whether the shootings are connected to each other or gang-related, he said, “We’re still investigating. That’s obviously a possibility.”
The most recent shooting occurred around 1:30 a.m. on Tuesday in front of 62 10th Ave. Five men were standing outside in front of the property and reported hearing shots and seeing flashes of light, but didn’t see anyone shoot a gun. Police recovered spent bullet casings at the scene. No injuries were reported.
There were two shootings on Saturday evening.
At around 8 p.m., 20-year-old Jose Jurado, of Huntington Station, was walking through the Long Island Railroad parking lot on New York Avenue when a man stepped out of a vehicle and shot Jurado in the foot, police said.
Jurado then fled to a 7-Eleven on New York Avenue where someone called 911. An ambulance took him to Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow, where he was listed in stable condition, police said. As of Wednesday’s deadline, hospital staff said he was still under their care.
At around 10:15 p.m. the same night, 53-year-old Jose Campos was standing in the driveway of a home at 24 East 6th St. when multiple shots were fired toward the home. Several shots struck the house, while others hit a vehicle in the driveway of a house next door. An 8-year-old child in the back seat of the vehicle was not injured, according to police.
June Margolin, president of Huntington Matters civic group and Huntington Station resident, believes the area has improved in recent years, but these incidents have shown that resources cannot be pulled away from the station, she said.
She wants to see additional patrolling in the areas, including bicycle patrols and undercover officers.
“Have the officers, instead of just driving through these hot areas, get out, walk around a bit, start talking to people,” she said. “As soon as we shrink away… they win and they take another step on the ladder of dominating us.”
According to a Nixle alert issued by police Wednesday, the area will get extra attention.
“In addition to augmented marked and unmarked patrols, there would be more frequent bicycle patrols in targeted areas,” the alert read.
Police ask anyone with information on any of these incidents to call Second Squad Detectives at 631-854-8252 or contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential.
Scimone said, “We’re just looking for help from the public. It would be appreciated.”
